12 th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 20 June 2010,

Who is Jesus for you? Which aspect of His life is most important to you? How has your image of God changed in the past five years?

It is easy to ask questions like the three above. Giving a faith-filled answer is more challenging. Before asking the disciples about whom people thought Him to be. He was praying. In St Luke’s Gospel, we find Jesus praying at important moments – before He chooses the Apostles, in the Garden of Gethsemane and again on the Cross.

Maybe our answers to these questions need prayer for enlightenment and guidance. If it was enough to know the teachings of the Church and to learn the catechism, it would be relatively easy to believe. But, then Jesus whispers in your ear, who do YOU say I am?

The great thing is that there are not right and wrong answers but simply your answer. It is your answer. Sometimes the way I express my belief may be sufficient for where I am on my journey through life. If I have come through some great loss, Jesus may seem very far away or even to have deserted me. Then my answer as to who Jesus is for me, may be more a case of hanging on than of feeling the warm glow of His love, If on the other hand, my life is moving ahead smoothly I may feel that Jesus is my closest and best friend. There are as many expressions of the answer to the question of who Jesus is as there are people.

Peter gives a great answer that always applies no matter what we have come through. His answer is so simple – The Christ of God. In other words, Peter says that Jesus is not John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets who has come back. No, Jesus is the only Son of the Father who has been sent to save us from sin and death. When we pray about our belief in Jesus, it could help us if we ask Peter to join us as we put together our response as to who Jesus is for me. Peter knows what it is to believe in Jesus and also knows what it is to deny Jesus. Peter will help us in our search without any hint of criticism of our poor efforts. He knows the struggle and how painful it can be.

When I think of my own favourite aspect of the life of Jesus, I love getting down beside Jesus to watch Him wash the feet at the Last Supper. That teaches me about service. I love to kneel close to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and listen to Him praying that His Father would not ask that He go through with the Passion. When I am afraid of what I have to face, that gives me confidence. I love to stand near the crowd when the woman taken in adultery is being prepared for stoning to death by her accusers. It is amazing to see Jesus deal with the situation. He writes in the dust, says little until all the accusers have gone away. Then with tenderness, He sends the lady away to sin no more. I learn about gentle mercy and forgiveness and lack of harshness.

Sometimes it takes courage to let go of the Jesus I learned about for my First Communion or for my Ordination (both many years ago!) It is so much easier to go on with what have been the familiar expressions of faith and to refuse to change or to grow in faith. The growth in faith, hope and love is one of the most exciting challenges in my life and in the lives of all believers. Of course there is uncertainty – I believe, help my unbelief. But what was a sufficient basis for my faith as a child or a young priest all those years ago belongs to a world and a church long gone.

The way forward is to ask in prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, especially when the going is really tough. Also, the example of Mary who pondered all that she heard from God in her heart. She remained faithful right up to the Hill of Calvary. She knew, better than most, who her Son is – the Christ of God. She too will help our search for Jesus.

Aidan Troy, C.P. [Aodhn Troighthigh, C.P.]