Jesus poses simple but penetrating questions
as he does here when he asks, “Who do you say that I am?”
And he is always asking this question of us.
- Who was Jesus for us when we were 17/18 years old?
- Who did we say Jesus was for us in college?
- And how did we answer that same question
as we made our first profession, started teaching, renewed our vows
and met the situations and circumstances,
the joys and happiness,
the losses and pain that come into every life?
In the good times and in the bad times
how have we answered the question,
“Who do you say that I am.”
The stark simplicity of Jesus’ question is disarming.
It reduces the whole equation to two terms:
me and Jesus, face to face -
and puts the burden on me to say who he is in my life.
In a sense, my job as the preacher is easy today.
It’s my task to make sure we hear the Lord’s question,
and ask ourselves:
“Who do I say Jesus is?”
Truth is, many of us may have more than one answer to the question.
• Who I say Jesus is - on Sunday morning -
might be different than who I say he is when I’m at teaching,
in the middle of the week.
On Sundays I might feel free to sing his praise
but on Wednesday I might be slow even to mention his name.
• Who I say Jesus is when I’m struggling with pain and loss
might be different than who I say he is when all’s going well.
The Lord is quick to point out in the gospel here
that the weight of the cross will burden those
who want to follow him.
Sometimes our suffering deepens our faith in Jesus,
but sometimes, in our pain, we feel he’s forgotten or abandoned us.
• Who I say Jesus is might change, a lot, as I grow older.
As I grow from childhood into adolescence
and from my teens into young adulthood,
and on to shouldering life’s greater responsibilities,
and in many ways ,
in every phase of my life my response to the Lord’s question,
“Who do you say that I am?” will change
and in many ways it should change as I change, and grow,
and learn and deepen my faith and understanding.
Indeed, there’s a problem if my answer to that question today
is the same one I gave when I was a child.
Jesus doesn’t change but: We. Do.
As I change, as I grow, as I deepen my faith,
so will my understanding of who Jesus is
change and grow and deepen.
So, the question for us today
is the question Jesus asked 2,000 years ago:
“Who do I say Jesus is?”
How has my reply changed over the years,
and how does it need to continue to change?
But most important of all: who do I say Jesus is today
- September 25, 2015?
We’re gathered at this altar because we believe, we say
that Jesus is the Bread of our lives and Cup of our salvation.
May the sacrament we celebrate and receive here,
give us Jesus…
"Give Me Jesus"
In the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise,
in the morning when I rise: give me Jesus!
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus!
You may have all this world, give me Jesus…
In my troubles ‘long the way, in my troubles ‘long the way,
in my troubles ‘long the way: give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus!
You may have all this world, give me Jesus…
Oh, and when my days are done, oh and when my days are done,
oh and when my days are done: give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus!
You may have all this world, give me Jesus…
