Homily for Thursday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus often asked questions of the people He met. One of His most essential questions is found in today's Gospel. First, He asks, "Who do people say that I am?" Then He asks the more important question, "But who do you say that I am?"

This question is directed to each of us, and we are all called to answer it for ourselves. However, it is not a question that merely seeks information that may be found in a book or online. It is a question that engages our minds and our hearts. Peter answered Jesus' question correctly: "You are the Christ."

Yet, Peter's answer did not contain the whole truth about Jesus. Jesus went on to reveal Himself as the Christ who would also be the suffering Son of Man, rejected, put to death, and rise after three days. This was hard for Peter to accept. He needed to learn to embrace the whole truth about Jesus, to accept Jesus as He truly is, rather than as Peter wanted or imagined Him to be. Peter still had a long journey before he could fully answer Jesus' question.

Likewise, we are all on that same journey, learning to receive Jesus as He is rather than how we wish Him to be or picture Him.

Let us pray that we will be diligent and patient, opening our minds and hearts as we make each step on that journey.