Who Is Jesus To Me?

Weekly Missionary Reflection
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, 27 August 2023
Isa. 22:19-23; Ps. 138:1-2a,2bc-3,6,8bc; Rom. 11:33-36; Matt. 16:13-20

Getting to know someone personally is certainly much different from just hearing about that person. In our daily lives, we deal with and connect with many individuals. In general, a relationship starts from an encounter. Encountering with someone leads us to a relationship. There are several types of relationships and each of us plays an important role in how we build these relationships. Our relationships with those individuals determine how far we know them.

In the Catholic faith, we believe that Jesus is God the Son who becomes flesh. Jesus is the person of God the Son himself. Jesus had a relationship with His apostles. However, at the time of Jesus, the disciples knew their Master not with the same understanding that we have today. The apostles did not study the scriptures or take religious classes. They knew Jesus as ‘Teacher’.  In that era it was common for someone with high intellect would become a teacher and have followers. Therefore, it’s no wonder the disciples said people thought Jesus was John the Baptist or an incarnation of one of the prophets from the past. So when Jesus asked the disciples who He was according to each of them, the disciples looked confused.

What if we are asked the same question today? Regardless of what we learn from religion class or preachers, who is Jesus to us? How far do we extend our relationship with Him? How deep do we know Him? As we often hear “You don’t know, you don’t love”, so does our relationship with Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, let us reflect on Jesus’ question to the disciples in today’s Gospel. Let us humbly be willing to spend time and give our hearts to have a relationship with Jesus through personal prayers and by reading and pondering the Scriptures. May the Holy Spirit lead us to encounter Christ. God bless.

(Br. Kornelius Glossanto, SX – Xaverian Missionary)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:

For World Youth Day
We pray that World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives.

Independence IdealsWe pray that the government and the members, political elites and intellectuals will strive together for the ideals of independence and national integrity, with no disputes and arguments that perplex the people and break unity and harmony.

Amen.