Homily for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Who Do You Say That I am?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, August 27, 2023

The practice of conducting opinion polls in political, economic and socio-cultural fields can really help us understand the Gospel of Matthew 16:13-20. In this Gospel passage, we are told that after his emergence at the public scene, Jesus travels with his disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi. There, he conducts an opinion poll about himself. Turning to his disciples, he asks, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples say, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Like any celebrity, Jesus had generated a buzz of interest. People are wondering “Who is this man?” There are many opinions and interpretations being bandied around about him just like in our culture today. But what all these popular opinions had in common is that they are dead wrong. 

Having heard the results of his opinion poll, Jesus turns to his inner circle, the Twelve, and asks, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter speaks, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Peter could have said, “Your are the Messiah,” that is, “the anointed one” who would gather the tribes of Israel, cleanse the temple and defeat Israel’s enemies; but he added that astonishing phrase, “Son of the living God.” So, even at the early stage of Jesus’ public ministry, Peter knew that Jesus was much more than a prophet or rabbi or seer. He knew there is something qualitatively different about his Master. Responding to Peter’s amazing confession, Jesus makes one of the most extraordinary declarations in the New Testament: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Neither the crowds nor the aristocrats knew who Jesus was— only Peter knew. And Peter knew not so much from his intelligence or from the great education he had. Peter wasn’t well educated. He was a small business owner and fisherman. His knowledge of Jesus is purely a gift from God, a special charism of the Holy Spirit.

Now, it is important to note that Jesus did not ask what people think of his teaching or what impression he is making. His question is about his true identity— Who do people say that I am? By the way, no other religious figure focused on himself. Buddha said there is a way that I discovered and I want you to know it. Muhammad did not focus on himself. He said there is a revelation I received and I want you to know it. Confucius did not talk about himself, but about the path he found. As for Jesus, he asks, “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” To answer Jesus’ first question is easy. It does not require a personal experience of Jesus to answer it. The reading of the Bible, the hearing of the good news, meditation, prayers, Mass attendance, participating in the sacraments, membership of the Church, lively faith, pursuit of holiness, working for peace and justice, practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy etc. are not needed to answer it. A person does not necessarily need to have an ongoing relationship with Jesus to attempt to answer it. To answer it, what a person needs is to simply look around and listen to public opinion, to gossip, to what people are saying about Jesus. But to be able to answer the second question, one must look inward, listen to a completely different voice, a voice that is not of flesh and blood but that of the heavenly Father. The answer we give to Jesus’ second question will be determined by how each of us relates to him. Is Jesus someone you make out time to visit and speak to in prayer? Is he worth your time on Sunday, on Holy Days of Obligations, and even during the week? Is he someone you can trust? Does he deserve your love? Is Jesus worth falling in love with? Do you see him as someone whose love and compassion for you is exceedingly profound and whose forgiveness for you is matchless? Do you see Jesus as someone who has the authority to tell you how to live, what to do, what not to do, how to relate with others, and how to honor God? Is Jesus your numero uno? Is he someone you are enthusiastically looking forward to spending eternity with? If you haven’t been in touch with him, do you miss him? And do you think he misses you?

Like the Apostles, we could also tell what the crowds are saying about Jesus. That’s alright! There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s the starting point. Our relationship with him most probably started with what others told us about him. But we have to move beyond that. We have to move beyond what others have told us about him in order to know him more personally and more intimately. How can a person know Jesus personally and intimately? The same way we get to know a person personally. If you want someone to be your friend, you have to meet the person and talk to the person. After that, the two of you must continue to talk either face to face or via the telephone. The conversation must be ongoing. You are also going to spend time together. Now, talking and spending time with God and with Jesus is called prayer. There is no other way to personally know Jesus except by prayer. There is no shortcut! As Catholic Christians, we should not be satisfied knowing what others have said about Jesus, we must know and encounter him personally. An encounter with Jesus changes and transforms lives. It was such an encounter that prompted St. Augustine to declare: “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 Psalmist felt so comfortable in the presence of the Lord that he proclaimed: “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord God of host” (Psalm 84:1).

God bless you!