21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle “A” – August 23, 2020 – Matthew 16: 13-20
Jesus’ question: “Who DO YOU say I am?” is a GREAT question for each of us to answer, and for all of us as a parish to answer together. When an engaged couple comes to visit me to discuss their upcoming wedding to one another, during our first conversation I’ll ask EACH of them to introduce me to their fiancé(e) by naming as many of that fiancé(e)’s positive qualities and virtues as they can. Yes, it’s true: I let them brag a bit to me about their intended spouse.
And in over forty years of asking fiancé(e)s to describe the one they love, and the one they intend to marry, not once did one of them say, “well, MY fiancé finished first in the 100 yard dash on his high school and college teams!” And not once did one of them say, “MY fiancée sold the most Girl Scout cookies of anyone in her Girl Scout troop.” I’m not suggesting that either of those would have been wrong: but if we’re talking about someone’s essence or the depth of their character, we’re talking about long-lasting qualities of substance. So, when Jesus asks that very personal question, “Who do YOU say that I am?” he’s asking NOT about our book knowledge or fact knowledge, but something deeper!
So how would each of us describe Jesus, either to Jesus or to someone looking to get to know our human & divine Savior better? Think of some ways the Church has described Jesus: Shepherd, Lover, Guide, Friend. Redeemer, and so on. Peter calling Jesus the Christ shows he knows Jesus is God’s Anointed & Chosen One of all time. And, it’s a very appropriate time for us to reflect at the level of our own personal experience: “Who DO YOU say Jesus is 4U?” If you have a specific name or way of describing your relationship with Him, do that now in the silence of your heart. [Pause]. Let me tell you this from me: when my father Jack died, I was 22 years old; I was crushed: I felt my world was crumbling around me. In prayer, I had been praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and had discovered a line in Psalm 116 that says: “I was brought low, & God saved me.” That line summarized accurately my experience, and through the aid of counselors, spiritual directors, and classmates, the power of Jesus Christ truly saved me.
Now, most of us, including couples getting married, know very well that making a promise to someone, be it to a spouse, future spouse, friend or Jesus, such a promise is NOT done once in a lifetime and then forgotten about! No! In fact, in his writings, Pope Francis reminds us that the renewal, on a regular basis, of such a significant promise & loving commitment, breathes new life into us and into the relationship.
So, let’s look at what our commitment to Jesus has been looking like recently. For example, if someone says, “Jesus is my Guide, or my internal GPS, or my faithful navigator,” s/he could incorporate that notion into his/her prayer. And at the end of a day, a week, or a month, s/he could reflect inside and ask his/her self: “Did I allow Jesus to lead, guide and navigate me in through life, in ALL my ups and my downs? Or did I at times dismiss Jesus’ divine GPS, and fly solo without his guidance?
It also seems to me that some lessons that Jesus has to teach us are very tough at times to learn. One lesson that we are ALL having to apply and attend to right now is the lesson to WAIT a minute. Look at all the plans we had starting at the end of last winter & the early days of spring. Then what? This CORONA-Virus came and interrupted the way we live, and breathe, and move around in daily life. And yes, we wear masks because science & our southern neighbors show us it’s a public health issue, not because we want to imitate Wonder Woman or look like Spider Man!
Many months ago, I was at the corner of Montauk Highway & Deer Park Avenue in Babylon Village, and I’d pressed the button to trigger the traffic light to cross the street, and I heard a voice saying, “WAIT!” WOW! The attitude that went through my 67 year old brain was not meek & mild; it was more like, “who’s telling me I have to wait? Yes, it was the traffic-light voice monitor telling me to wait, so that I wouldn’t get run over by oncoming traffic! But when I think about it, it could just as easily have been Jesus, telling me to wait. Because to put my will at HIS command & service, and to live “thy will be done” is a whole new way of living and breathing, especially from someone who has preferred to say, “I did it my way!”
As we receive the Eucharist today, may WE strengthen our church & faith to the ends of the earth by living and loving Christ, by serving and desiring Christ, and by making Him #1 in our minds & hearts not only in name, but in fact. God bless your week! Fr. Chris Heller