Sunday Readings: Isaiah 22.19-23, Romans 11.33-36, Matthew 16.13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples this. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus said, “But you, who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16.13-16).
Jesus’ question to his first disciples echoes down the centuries to every Christian. Who is Jesus? Is Jesus a prophetic reformer who hopes to breathe life into the legalistic religion of his day and who challenges us to do the same? Is he a revolutionary whose inflammatory preaching catches him in the gears of Caesar’s empire? Is he the greatest host of all time who invites everyone to eat at his table?
In our new context of evolution we also ask, “Isn’t Jesus, who is the Christ, the Omega point in whom all creation will converge? Isn’t he the firstborn of a new creation who testifies that love is the ultimate transforming power in the cosmos?” Jesus’ question is also one to ask ourselves.
Who do other people say you are? Who has noticed you are a Christian?