August 23rd, 2020. 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Mt 16, 13-20
In Jesus’ time the Jewish people were anxious about the coming of a messiah, a saviour. Throughout its history Israel has suffered constant oppression by other stronger nations. At present it is the Romans who oppress them. They cry out for a saviour, and many believe they see him in different characters (John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets…). That is why Jesus asks the disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is” (another name for the expected messiah). After hearing their answers, Jesus asks them directly: “And who do you say that I am?” Again Peter, so impulsive, and moved by the Spirit of God, takes the floor and answers: “You are the Son of the living God”. And after praising Peter, Jesus asks the twelve not to tell anyone that he is the Messiah. Later he will tell them: do not say this until I have risen from the dead.
There are many pressures that Christians suffer in our days, and from many different sources. There are times when we must be ready to give an account of our faith: “Who do you say that I am?” “Who is Jesus for me? What does he mean in my life? Am I able to manifest my faith in contrary environments?
Jesus has already risen and manifested himself alive to those who believed in him. They started to spread the word all over the world, even at the risk of their own lives. Through them that faith has come to us.
In our participation in the Sunday Eucharist, as we listen to the Word of God, may we feel the presence of the Spirit in our lives, and may he be the strength we need to live and proclaim Jesus as our Saviour.
Juan Ramón Gómez Pascual, cmf
