Charles Lamb was a British essayist who lived in the 19th century. He was once involved in a discussion on the question: Who is the greatest literary genius of all time? Two names finally emerged—William Shakespeare and Jesus of Nazareth. Lamb put an end to the debate when he said: “I’ll tell you the difference between these two men. If Shakespeare walked into this room right now, we would all rise to greet him, but if Christ came in, we would all fall down and worship.”
There is the essential difference between the Man from Nazareth and all other great people you can think of. Jesus Christ is God, and all others, no matter what their deeds, are contributing some stage for a brief time and then exiting. Today’s Gospel describes who Jesus really is and the unique conditions for Christian discipleship.
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus asking two questions about His identity. The first question is, “Who do people say that I am?” What is the public opinion about Jesus? Their answer was, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” John the Baptist was such a great figure that many Jews, and Herod their king, thought that John’s spirit had entered the body of Jesus. Elijah, the greatest of the prophets, was believed to be the forerunner of the Messiah. “One of the prophets” suggested that Jesus had a ministry like that of the former prophets.
The second question Jesus addressed to His apostles: “What do you say about me, who am I?” It was Peter who spoke on behalf of the apostles: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter was the first apostle to publicly recognize Jesus as the Anointed One. Christ is the Greek word for the Hebrew Messiah. Jesus was well-pleased with Peter’s answer. However, Jesus was quick to explain to the disciples that He was not a political Messiah who would reestablish the Davidic kingdom after defeating the Romans. Instead, He was the Messiah who would redeem mankind by His suffering, death, and resurrection.
Like the suffering servant in the first reading, Jesus accepted suffering as part of His mission, out of fidelity toward the One whom He called Father.
Today, as we celebrate this Eucharist, Jesus asks the same question He asked His apostles 2,000 years ago: “Who do you say that I am?” Do I have a personal relationship with Jesus?
We know that God is more than a concept or a feeling. God is a person—a person who lives, who knows us and our names, a person who talks and listens, a person who loves us and wants us to love Him back. This is not just a Protestant concept; it is the very essence of being a Christian.
In The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium), Pope Francis writes: “I invite all Christians, everywhere at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them. I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord” (Evangelii Gaudium, 3).
Pope Francis is speaking these words to you, calling on you to take your relationship with Jesus Christ seriously. Let Jesus Christ encounter you today, right now. Let yourself be moved by Him, to realize that the living and true God became like us so that we can become like Him. He knows what you are going through; He has felt what you feel, and He wants you to come to Him in your time of need. When you do—when you form that personal relationship with Him—you will realize that He is all you need in this life. He is your strength and joy.
Once we build this relationship with Jesus, we will be more comfortable sharing Jesus with others. We can share what we have found so that others may know why we are alive, why we come to this place, and why we live with so much joy, mercy, and forgiveness. We tell and share our faith with anyone—how much Jesus means to our lives. Let Christ be the center of everything we do. Let us pray with saint Francis de sales. May we always find joy in knowing, loving and serving the Lord.