Who Is Jesus?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Mary Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, August 27, 2017

For over two thousands years, the question, “Who is Jesus?” has remained a dominant topic of discussion, a central issue and subject matter that won’t go away. When the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Or who is the one that gave you this authority? (Luke 20:2), they were basically trying to figure out the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When they demanded for a sign from Jesus (Matt.12:38), they were seeking for the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When Pilate asked Jesus during his trial, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (Mark 15:2), he was also seeking for the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When the same Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), he was searching for the truth of the question, “Who is Jesus?” When the Council of Elders of the people, the chief priests and scribes said to Jesus before their Sanhedrin, “If you are the Messiah, tell us” (Luke 22:67) they were looking for the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When they posed a question to him, “Are you then the Son of God?” (Luke 22:70), they wanted to know the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When the disciples of Jesus, with pleasant amazement asked the question, “Who is this man that even the wind and sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41), they too were looking for the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” Historians, theologians, archeologists, biblical scholars, writers, etc. have at various times in the past and in the present attempted to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” 

But answers to this simple, yet complex question are littered throughout the Gospel accounts. Our knowledge of the story of Jesus and our encounter with him will determine the kind of answer we give to the question, “Who is Jesus?” In today’s Gospel (Matthew 16:13-20), Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matt. 16:13b) Put differently, tell me what folks in your community and neighborhood are saying about me. Tell me their answers to the question, “Who is Jesus?” The disciples had no trouble or difficulty remembering what others are saying about him: some think you are John Baptist, others think you are Elijah, but there are others too who think you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets, they replied. Now, it’s important to note that Jesus was never likened to a criminal, a terrorist, a rebel, a law-breaker, an arsonists, or a murderer. He was thought to be one of the men of God; one of the authentic prophets of God. Impressive! But Jesus was not only interested in what others are saying about him, he was also interested, and I would say, more interested in what his disciples say about him. So, turning to them, he asked, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15) Asked differently, Who is Jesus to you? Simon Peter spoke for the group, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Jesus was thrilled and glad with his answer and right there placed him in a position of authority, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:17-19). 

Sisters and brothers, who is Jesus to us? How we answer this question will determine how each of us relates to him. Our notion of the Lord will determine how we serve and worship him. Many of us have been told and taught who Jesus is right from our catechism class. Our parents, teachers, faith formators, God-parents, church-folks etc. have told us who Jesus is. At every Mass, our priests preach to us and in their preaching, we learn who Jesus is. Just like the disciples of Jesus, we can also tell what others have said about him. There’s nothing wrong with that. After all, that’s how we started learning who Jesus is. But today, I want to ask each of us personally, “Who is Jesus?” Is he someone that worth our time on Sunday and during the week? Is he someone we can trust? Is he someone worthy of our love? Do you think he loves us, forgives us and protects us? Is Jesus someone who has the authority to tell us how to live, what we should be doing and what we should not be doing? Is Jesus someone we are looking forward to spending eternity with? 

You know, it is easy to say that Jesus is the Son of God, or the Son of Mary, or the Savior, or the Second Person in the Blessed Trinity. It is easy to say that he is a miracle Worker, wonder Worker, a Deliverer, Liberator, Protector, and a Healer. It is easy to say that Jesus is the Light of the world and that he is Lord and God. It is easy to call Jesus Teacher, Preacher, Greatest Physician, Greatest Doctor, Greatest Giver and the Good Shepherd. It is easy to call him, “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It is easy to call him the Lamb of God, the Prince of peace, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Solid Rock on which we stand. In answering the question, “Who is Jesus?” we can describe him in simple ordinary terms or in high sounding theological terms. Everything we have said so far about who Jesus is is true and accurate. But is he someone we are willing and ready to surrender completely and unreservedly to?