Word to the Wise
Sunday, August 24, 2014 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Isa 22:19-23; Rom 11:33-36; Matt 16:13-20]"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" "But who do you say that I am?"
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014 TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
[Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20]
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" "But who do you say that I am?"
We Americans are very individualistic, probably the most culturally individualistic people on the planet! Each person is seen to be unique. The song, "I did it my way.." is a reflection of this attitude. We don't like to be known or "classified" according to where we are from or according to our ancestors, but rather accepted and appreciated for who we are as an individual person. This was not the culture in which Jesus lived. If we want to understand his questions in today's gospel we have to be aware of the cultural difference and then ask the question ourselves.
To many people who met him, Jesus would have been known as "Jesus of Nazareth." Indeed, in the Gospel of John, when Nathaniel hears that Jesus is from Nazareth, he says: "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" [John 1:46] Another reaction which occurred when Jesus came back to his home synagogue was: "Is this not the son of the carpenter?" In other words, Jesus was "known" by the people of his time more by his place of birth or the trade of his family.
The response to Jesus' questions today show that people also reacted to him according to other religious figures that they knew of. His real identity was not understood, even by Peter who had the right idea but was unable to accept the terrible fate that Jesus would undergo because of his own ideas about the messiah.
If we ask ourselves the same questions, the cultural and individualistic character within us can prompt us to come up with an answer that is comfortable, even if it is challenging. To really know who Jesus is, we may have to put aside some cherished notions and dive into the scriptures and tradition. Peter's response brought him a unique status among the disciples. I wonder what our response will bring? AMEN
config
view
logs
4096.0 KB
81 ms
4
