Jesus Conducts Opinion Poll

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Solemnity of Ss. Peter & Paul

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, June 29, 2014

There is a practice in today’s society that can help us to understand today’s gospel taken Matthew 16:13-20. It is the practice of opinion poll usually conducted everywhere especially in political and commercial field. Jesus, in today’s gospel conducts opinion poll about himself, but not for political reasons but for educational reasons.

Today’s gospel says that Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, and having settled down asked his disciples, “What do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples, one after another replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” But Jesus was not done yet. He was not interested in computing and calculating his popularity or in knowing how high he was regarded by the people. He has a different reason and purpose. So he immediately fired a second question: “But who do you say that I am?”

Jesus’ second question threw his disciples off balance because they were not expecting it. The second question was met with silence as the disciples stand looking at each other. When Jesus asked the first question, each of the disciples had something to say. But when the second question was asked, only Simon Peter responded: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” With gladness Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.”

Now to be able to answer the first question, one needs to look around and to listen to public opinion, to gossips, to what people are saying about Jesus. But to be able to answer the second question, one must look inside, to listen to a completely different voice, a voice that is not of flesh and blood but that of the heavenly Father.

Today, Jesus conducts an opinion poll. But he is not so much interested in public opinions and in what others say about him. He wants to know what his disciples think of him. He wants to know what we say about him. He wants to know if there is anyone that really knows him and that would continue with his mission after he is physically gone. He does not want his disciples to hide behind public opinions and what the polls say about him. He wants them to speak for ourselves; and he wants us to speak for ourselves.  

It is not enough to know what others have said or written about Jesus. Someone can make A in an examination on what theologians have written and said about Jesus and still not be a Christian who knows the Lord. Knowing what others have said and written about Jesus is needed for intellectual knowledge of the Lord, but ultimately, Jesus should be a personal discovery. As Catholic Christians, we should not be satisfied knowing about Jesus, we must know him. We must encounter him. It is this encounter with the Lord that changes lives. This kind of encounter transforms. When St. Augustine encountered the Lord, his declaration was “Late have I loved you O Ancient Beauty. Late have I loved you. You were with me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you…I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst more.”

The saints are people like us who had a profound relationship with Jesus, a relationship of love. They knew the Lord through their encounter with him and were not shy of talking about him. Christianity is not only about reciting a creed; it is about knowing a person- Jesus of Nazareth, the Good Shepherd.

Today’s gospel teaches us that our discovery of Jesus should be a personal one. Our knowledge of him should not be at second hand. Our encounter with him determines the way we relate with him. Effective Christian evangelism really begins when we speak to others based on our personal experience of Jesus. Believing in the divinity of Jesus Christ is not enough; we must also bear witness to it. Whoever knows Jesus and does not bear witness to this faith will have a tougher query before God than those who do not have this faith.