FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

MASS READINGS

A reading from the holy Gospel Lk 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He 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.”

REFLECTION

”What do people say I am.”

”Who do you say I am.”

In Luke 9:7-9, Herod asks the question, “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

A few verses later (today's Gospel), Jesus is asking these two questions: “What do people say I am?” and “Who do you say I am?”

With the first question, we look around and see what and how others answer. As kindred spirits, we are not at the same level of knowing Jesus. The answers of our neighbors, work friends, and families say a lot, inform us and connect with us as to what they are looking for, what they need, and what they desire and how we can speak to them of God.

The second question, however, is directed to us, individually. Jesus is knocking at our door and our reply will say a lot about us.

Is Jesus Christ the Son of God? Are we in awe of God made man or are we satisfied being aloof or indifferent? Do we want to grow in our faith, walk with Him and be with Him? Do we want to follow Him? Are we ready to carry our own cross for His greater glory?

I might know all there is about swimming but unless I get wet, practice, and master it, I will never understand the joy of swimming. Unless I love as God has loved me I will never know who Jesus is in my life.

Join us for FACE ZBS to fall in love—the more we see and hear about Jesus, the better we can answer “Who do you say I am”.

God bless you