Knowledge of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 16:13-19

Reflection: In school and even in quiz contests one is often asked about the naming of the head of state and I have often wondered how relevant or important it is to know the name of the head of state.

If one meets the simple folks in the villages and by lanes of the cites too then one will find that there are many who could be going about life without knowing the names of any of these big peoples.

You could go to the government offices and yet can get your work done without anyone bothering to know your IQ or general knowledge on these matters.

Many a times, it is a rule in government offices to even put up a photograph of these head of state and yet one need not bother to know them in order to get their work done.

Can the same be said about the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Can we go about life without knowing Christ Jesus?

Perhaps we may go about life without Jesus but to live that fullness of life; a life of true happiness here on earth and carry a sure hope of the eternity then it is not possible without the knowledge of Jesus.

No work that concerns our total being and our full maturity can be accomplished without the knowledge of Jesus Christ; “for apart from me you can do nothing.” says he. John 15:5

In other words; it is not just the knowledge about Jesus but a deep intimate knowledge of him.

It is to be based on a relationship with Jesus, which foundation is total faith and trust.

It is not an abstract foundation but a relationship with a risen Christ who assures us of his presence with us even to the end of times.

How then could he assure Peter, that his work of building his church on the rock of Peter, in our midst, will be a continual labor of his?

Hence all knowledge may be passing and for a moment, but the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the only knowledge that will see us through for all eternity.

Prayer:  May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. (cfr. Eph 1:17)

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Cross of Christ

Today’s Gospel Text: Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" 19 And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen." 20 And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." Luke 9:18-22

Reflection: “But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one.” (vs.21) Jesus asks them after  they have answered then instructs them strictly to tell no one about him.

What is this big idea of asking his disciples to tell no one when he himself has asked them?

I can only think about the greatest information Jesus himself may be having about himself, namely that of his impending death: "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (vs.22)

If that is so then everything else can wait, every kind of knowledge about himself can wait, even if it is the best knowledge about himself. At the same time no knowledge about himself, no matter how good and fantastic it may be, is not worth its salt, unless it is salted by the fire of the cross.

Did St. Paul mean the same, when he said: “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”1 Cor 1:21-24

Whatever good we may do in life and even the most marvelous works in his name but if our work is not salted by the fire of the cross of Christ and the love of it then we are useless and our work a rubble.

The dedicated disciples of Jesus, must have picked up the value of the message of the cross much later than his resurrection, some of them as they went along proclaiming Christ Jesus.

Nevertheless they were all salted at some point or the other as they went along and this added power to their ministry which still shines forth in the Church down till this age.

Prayer: Lord, as I meditate on your cross, may I grow in loving you and your great sacrifice celebrated at every Eucharist.

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