Today’s Gospel:  Luke 9:18-22

REFLECTION
The starting point of our faith must be our answer to Jesus' question: "Who do you say I am?" For our faith to take root and grow to maturity, we must first understand why this question - and our answer to it - is so important.

Christians in every age have wrestled with the truth that Jesus Christ the Lord is the only way to eternal life. Many have tried to understand and explain how this man, great though he was, could be God. They have all failed, because the human intellect cannot hold such a truth. Peter professed that Jesus is truly the Christ. No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter, but only God.  Through the eyes of faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was.  To know Jesus Christ is to know the power of his death and resurrection.

Jesus does not ask us to judge his words in the light of our human wisdom and insight, but to give our assent to their truth. He does not ask us to examine and evaluate his teachings, but to accept them. He does not ask us to weigh the consequences of his invitation to follow him, but to trust him. He does not ask us to acknowledge him as the teacher of a new philosophy, or as the founder of a new religion. He challenges us to profess that he is God.

The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of faith to know Jesus personally, the power to live the gospel faithfully, and courage to witness to others the joy and truth of the gospel.  In response to this truth, we are called upon to make our profession of faith, to articulate in our time who he is and what he means for us, and to live out our faith in the face of the enormous challenges of our day. So, who do you say Jesus is?

- MA

Today’s Reading:  Eccl 3:1-11

PRAYER
Father Almighty, thank you for the gift of faith that made me know Jesus personally.  Grant me the grace to keep this faith growing in me that I may witness to others the joy and truth of the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.