Today's Reflections
Peter’s Confession about Jesus
Lk 9:18-22
18Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ ” 20Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.” 21He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
22He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Who do you say that I am? After seeing Jesus perform great miracles, Peter is confident that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies of old, the personification of Israel’s hopes and aspirations. And so he answers correctly, albeit impulsively as is his habit, that Jesus is the Messiah of God.
But this time around, Jesus is teaching a deeper truth—that the Messiah must undergo his passion, death, and resurrection to fulfill the will of the Father. In Matthew’s parallel account, this pronouncement bothers Peter greatly that he attempts to dissuade the Lord, prompting Jesus to call Peter “Satan.” Obviously, Peter does not fully grasp the impact of his answer (cf Mt 16:23).
To know Jesus is a primary prerequisite for all disciples to remain faithful to the Master lest we misunderstand him. We should be able to answer Christ’s question, understand its nuances and implications, and know the Lord intimately. Otherwise, we will be prone to backslide and be disappointed because we have relegated Jesus to a mere wonder worker and prosperity preacher. A personal encounter with Jesus reinvigorates our resolve to persevere even in moments of adversity and suffering. As St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions: “Lord, let me know myself; let me know you.”
Recall your personal encounter with the Lord.
How did it shape your life?
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