Who do we say he is?

Here is a philosophical question for the group: if one writes a homily, but doesn't actually give it, is it still a homily?  I ask that because what follows is a homily I had written for yesterday, the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time for Cycle B.  I had been away on vacation for more than a week, and consequently was not at the parish the previous weekend, when they posted the preaching schedule for September.  My personal calendar told me I was supposed to preach yesterday.  So I spent a good deal of time last week, while we were vacationing, praying, thinking and discussing with my wife what I would say about yesterday's Gospel.  Then I waltzed into the sacristry yesterday before mass only to be informed that the official schedule for presiders and deacons has the deacons preaching, not this past weekend, but in a couple of weekends.  So I goofed, or the schedule changed, or something.  I was paired yesterday with a visiting priest who, naturally, had come prepared to preach, so I graciously (at least I hope I was gracious about it) deferred to him.

But, in case it is of interest, here is what I would have said.   

Who do you say that I am?

The people of Jesus’s time weren’t entirely sure who Jesus was.  Their guesses - John the Baptist or Elijah - weren’t exactly right, but not completely on the wrong track, either.  Both Elijah and John clearly had been sent by God and were mighty prophets.  I think we need to give the people a decent grade for seeing that Jesus also had been sent by God, and God had given him remarkable gifts.

Peter’s answer was better: he identified Jesus as the Christ, which means the Anointed One.  Another word for that person is Messiah: the one chosen by God, whose coming had been foretold, and who would save us from our enemies.  In calling Jesus the Christ, Peter is saying a lot: he is putting Jesus at the turning point of salvation history.  God has been preparing for the coming of the Christ, his Anointed One, over many generations.  The Christ’s coming among his people means that God has not forgotten us, has not turned away from us: he has sent this man Jesus to rescue us and restore us to God’s friendship.  All of that is wrapped up in Peter’s naming Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One.  If we give the people a B for guessing John the Baptist or Elijah, then maybe we award Peter a solid A for saying Jesus is the Christ.

Two thousand years later, it’s an urgent question for us, too: Who do *we* say Jesus is?

Of course, Jesus himself tells us who he is, in various Gospel metaphors and parables.  He is the light of the world, come to dispel the darkness of sin and light the way to our salvation.  He is the Good Shepherd, who guards us, and rescues any of us who stray from the herd.  He is the vine who provides life and nourishment to us the branches.  He is our way, our truth, and our life.  All of these are food for thought and prayer for us.

There are other possible answers, too.  Here are three of them:

One answer is: Jesus is our friend – or, even better, our brother.  Just like our best friend, or our siblings, Jesus knows us well: better than anyone.  We share our secret thoughts and our deepest desires and longings with our closest friend, or with the sister or brother with whom we’re the closest.  Our brother or our friend know things about us that even our parents don’t know.  Our brother or our friend know *all* about us: even our warts and our failings.  But the great thing about a brother or a good friend is they overlook the warts and failings.  From time to time, we do things that hurt or disappoint our friend or our brother.  But that’s the wonderful thing about good friends and good siblings: they forgive.  They continue to love us even when we have hurt them.  No matter what, they continue to love us: to the very end.  A good friend or a loving sibling would give his or her right arm to help us.  That’s the remarkable thing about Jesus, our best friend and our closest brother: he gave his very life for us.

Our friend or our brother: is that who we say Jesus is? 

Here’s another answer: Jesus is our teacher – or, to use a term that has been applied to one who taught disciples, Jesus is our master.  Like a good teacher or master, Jesus dispenses wisdom to us – he tells us how to live our lives well.  Good teachers challenge their students: often, the things worth knowing require a lot of work and may even require struggle.  But internalizing knowledge and wisdom of a good teacher and master is worth all the work and struggle.  Some of Jesus’s lessons are hard. He teaches us, not to strike back at our enemies, but to turn the other cheek.  He teaches us, not to walk past those in need, but to give them not only the shirt off our back but our cloak as well.  He teaches us to love everyone, even our enemies.  He teaches us that we shouldn’t strive to be among those who lord it over others, but to serve others instead.  Those aren’t easy lessons to grasp, but our teacher and master asks us to try anyway.

Our teacher or our master: is that who we say Jesus is? 

Here’s a third answer: Jesus is our lord and king.  Like a good lord and king, Jesus protects us from our enemies.  He tells us we have no reason to be afraid because he is watching over us and guarding us.  Like a good lord and king, Jesus makes sure that we, his subjects, have the food we need.  He gives us the bread of life, and living water.  Like a good lord and king, Jesus dispenses justice, especially on behalf of the poor and weak who aren’t connected, who lack the means and the clout to get their day in court.  Jesus makes sure that the rich and powerful aren’t exploiting and trampling over the rights of the little people.

Our lord and king: is that who we say Jesus is? 

Other answers are possible.  Some of us may see Jesus as a priest, or as a healer, or perhaps in some other role.  But who do *you* say that I am?  Who is Jesus, to us? 

Whether we intend to or not, we’re answering Jesus’s question, every moment of every day.  The way we live our lives tells us, tells the world, and tells Jesus himself, who we really think Jesus is.  How we live tells Jesus whether he’s important to us, whether we are grateful for all he has done for us, whether we even respect him very much.  Sadly, it’s very easy to live our lives as though Jesus isn’t actually very important to us at all.  Nothing comes more naturally to us than ignoring Jesus and doing whatever we wish, pursuing whatever goals and pleasures appeal to us.  Do we live as though Jesus is important to us – as though he is at the very center of our lives?  Do we live as though Jesus is our brother, or our friend?  As though Jesus is our teacher and master?  As though Jesus is our lord and king? 

Who do you say that I am?  Who do we say that Jesus is?  We answer that question by how we live our lives.