This coming Sunday, the 24th Sunday in Ordinary time, we will hear Jesus ask his disciples who people say that he is. This question comes after many instances where Jesus has fed the hungry, healed the sick, given sight to the blind, made the deaf hear, and the mute speak. They respond that the people having seen these signs, believe Jesus to be John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the other great prophets of old. However, when Jesus asks who they, the disciples believe him to be, Peter responds, “You are the Christ.”
Peter’s response is a great response of faith in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the living God. This response of faith is one that requires more than mere assent to the truth of who Jesus is. Faith requires a living response that is shown in action, as Jesus showed in his own life, and as his disciples showed throughout their lives despite the cost to themselves, by doing what they observed Jesus do while they walked with him as his disciples.
In the reading, Jesus tells those who heard him that following him isn’t necessarily easy. Following Jesus as his disciple requires having the courage to put his mission ahead of their own desires, that is to take up their cross, so that they too might participate in his mission of salvation to the world. Jesus calls each one of us to participate in this mission, to respond to his invitation to be heralds of his saving mercy in a world so in need of that good news. May we, through actions inspired by our faith, proclaim to those we meet that we truly do believe that Jesus is the Christ, the savior of the world.
Written by Deacon Dave Engasser
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Readings from:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091221.cfm
