Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" For three weeks we studied the parables of Jesus. We then studied the miracles of Jesus. We have been provided insight into the Kingdom of God through stories and miracles. As we discussed over the last six weeks, these call us to a response. Today, Jesus asks His Apostles a key question. Hearing all you heard, seeing all you have seen, what do you have to say?
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
For three weeks we studied the parables of Jesus. The parables give us, as they did for the disciples, insight into the mysteries of the Kingdom.
We then studied the miracles of Jesus. These ranged from the feeding of the multitudes, healings, and demonstrations of Jesus’ power over nature itself.
We have been provided insight into the Kingdom of God through stories and miracles. As we discussed over the last six weeks, these call us to a response.
Today, Jesus asks His Apostles a key question. Hearing all you heard, seeing all you have seen, what do you have to say?
We often attribute the faith statement we hear to Peter alone. While he was the spokesperson, this statement was that of all the Apostles. They had certainly discussed this along the way. They debated it and they concluded: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Peter’s faithful statement sets forth that upon which the Church is built – faith. The rock is faith, not a person, for the only foundation is Jesus, the Son of the living God.
Our confidence and trust must always be on Jesus. Our first reading gives us a bit on insight into the kind of faith that is required.
Israel had been under siege at the time of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah eventually surrendered and paid a heavy ransom using treasures from the Temple The inhabitants of Jerusalem took the lifting of the siege as occasion for great rejoicing – they partied. Rather, they should have mourned the dead and should have learned that faith in anything other than God leads to disaster. Shebna was not engaged in faithful service either. Rather, he spent all his time building his tomb. He was unfaithful to his charge and was thus punished. Eventually, Eliakim would fall to the same fate. What of us?
The question is before us. Hearing all you heard, seeing all you have seen, what do you have to say? Where is the Rock I trust in?
We are called to make that leap of faith, focus off us and firmly on the Son of God.
