Jesus asks his disciples in today’s gospel what normally a leader would like to know. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Or any one of us would like to know what do the people think of us. Jesus might have wished to know, whether people accept him, whether people would fulfil the mandate, he would give.
During the lifetime of Jesus most people did not understand him well. Some thought, he would be John the Baptist; others thought, Jesus would be Elia; or some others thought of him as a prophet. All these concepts about Jesus were wrong. Jesus was none of them.
Peter was the one who understood who really Jesus was. Peter confessed: “You are Christ, Son of the living God”. The answer of Peter was a personal answer; he did not answer it for all the disciples. His contact with Jesus and the regular visit of Jesus in Capernaum could be reasons for Peter to recognise Jesus and to know who he really was. The hearing of the preachings of Jesus and taking part in all the important events in the life of Jesus after beginning the public ministry also could have helped him to know the person of Jesus.
Jesus recognised the confession of Peter as a revelation from the Father. Jesus rewarded Peter with promises of high responsibilities. : “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
The same Peter said in a few months later, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” But during the trial of Jesus as a maid recognised Peter as a disciple of Jesus “he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.” Peter was afraid to acknowledge his experience and his conviction.
His repentance shows his love to Jesus, his helplessness in need, his lack of courage. During the appearance of Jesus after the resurrection Peter answered very emotionally three times to the question of Jesus whether he loves him and received from Jesus the responsibility of shepherding the people of God. But we know how courageous was Peter to proclaim Jesus after the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
We could pose this question in today’s world. Whom do the people say about Jesus? Whom do the people say about the Pope? Whom do the people say about the bishops? Whom do the people say about a priest? I know it is not easy today to be a Pope, bishop or priest. There are many researches and opinions about Jesus. But what people think about me? That will be a question for us all to reflect and discern. It is also an occasion for us to reflect on who is Jesus for me. What does the message of Jesus mean to me? The correct answer to these questions will help us to experience and grow into communion with Jesus and that we will be able to fulfil the great mission received from him.
Not only for the members of the church, it is for all who try to proclaim truth and try to represent truth and work for truth, it is not an easy life today. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We believe in him, proclaim him and trust him. He is our hope.
Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS