Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto
But You, Who Do You Say I Am?
Today, we read from the book of Genesis, the first covenant ever made between God and a person, Noah, after the Flood, and the covenant was that nothing of the flesh shall ever be swept away, no more flood to sweep the earth again, while giving a sign that will always signify this covenant, the Rainbow. More importantly, God blessed them, just as he blessed the first man, to fill the world and rule it but they were not to eat flesh with blood. Why was this law very important?
It points out the significance of blood. Blood is the sign of life: when the blood is circulating, there is life; when the blood is drained, you have only a hunk of meat. So blood, the sign of life, belongs to God, who gives life. Especially human blood is sacred because human life is in the image of God. Nobody, in any case, should shed the blood of another, for everyone is created in the image of God; it's God who gives life and is the only one who should take life. Animal blood is used in worship as a sign of cleansing and purification: it gives new life. Blood on the doorposts saved the Israelites from the angel of death. Blood is smeared on the altar to give it new life and impart its life-giving potential. Blood is sprinkled on the altar and people to give them new life and signify a covenant of life shared by God with his people. Christ’s blood, above all, in the Eucharist gives us his divine life.
When Jesus told his disciples that he would shed blood for us to be forgiven of our sins (today's Gospel), Peter could not understand which type of Messiah would shed blood instead of winning all battles. Nevertheless, Peter had to come to terms with this reality because that's what it means to be 'the Christ,' as he called Jesus, when Jesus asked his disciples, "But you, who do you say I am?"
The phrasing and the formulation of this question throw us into a deep spiritual reflection on what it really means that Jesus is God, the Messiah, and saviour of the world. Cyril of Alexandria comments: "When the disciples had said, 'Some, John the Baptist, and others, Elijah, and others, that some prophet of those in old time has risen up,' he said to them, 'But you, who do you say that I am?' Oh! how full of meaning is that word, you! He separates them from all others, that they may also avoid the opinions of others. In this way, they will not conceive an unworthy idea about him or entertain confused and wavering thoughts. Then they will not also imagine that John had risen again, or one of the prophets. 'You,' he says, 'who have been chosen,' who by my decree have been called to the apostleship, who are the witnesses of my miracles. Who do you say that I am?"
Jesus challenges each of us to reflect on our understanding of who he is, who he is to us individually and personally, but also who he is in fact. We can ask ourselves, “What does it mean to me that Jesus is God?” Today we are invited to come to only ourselves: leave what the priest or catechist has told you who Jesus is, leave what your mum and your father has said, leave behind what you have read in different books about Jesus and all what your friends or pastors have said and go deep into your heart and get that answer, that feeling of who Jesus is to you, that individual experience of Jesus. Which answer is there? On top of your answer, you will find Peter's response, “You are the Christ.”
You will also find that Jesus is not just a historical inspirational man, but: He is the one and only way to Heaven. Without His death and resurrection, we cannot attain Heaven. He is the one and only Saviour. The Lamb who was slain for our sins. The one and only source of eternal redemption. The exclusive bridge between Heaven and humanity. And though you might understand this intellectually to a certain extent, your faith in this fact must enter deeply into your soul so that you can believe it and embrace His gift of eternal salvation within the deepest core of your being. This takes a radical understanding, acceptance, and embrace if we are to truly receive the gift of Jesus’ life.
If you are to answer this correctly, then it requires that you continually deepen your understanding, acceptance, and full embrace of the saving mission of our Lord. Though this is a lifelong process, we must never stop entering more deeply into this divine mystery and gift so that we will become completely transformed by the life, death, and resurrection of He Who is the Christ of God.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, may your grace be upon me, and your Holy Spirit guide me today and always as I discover more deeply who you are to me and what you are calling me to be for you, my Lord and my God. Amen
Be blessed.
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