Jesus asks a profound question in this Sunday's Gospel account from Mark : Who do you say that I am? It is a rather simple question, but one that actually requires much thought in its answer. For us today, it might be easy to let some theologically packaged words fall from our tongues such as " You are the Son of God" or You are the Anointed One sent by the Father". Those kinds of answers may be true, but they will remain a bit meaningless unless we attach real meaning to them by how we live them in our lives.
We believe that Jesus is God... but what is our image of God? Is God a judge, a miracle worker, a refuge, the supplier of all things, the divine accountant, etc? We could probably find a scripture passage to support a "yes" to all of those things and more. That is not the point, however, or rather the point I wish to make.
I think that adults need to venture beyond our childhood images of God. Adults need to embrace a fuller picture of God in order to receive the fullness of God's graces. For me, that sometimes means that I know more about who and what God is not than who and what God is ! That kind of ignorance is rather uncomfortable for me at times, but as I ask myself why?, I find myself in a better place. That better place is a more profound trust in the still active Creator who unconditionally lavishes undeserved gifts upon us, some that we recognize and some that we don't.
Just as Peter in the Gospel story today, we often do not want to hear the challenges that accompany our lives as followers of Jesus. It is easier to think of Jesus as a kind miracle worker and ignore that he angrily rebuked Peter as well as the hypocritical Pharisees and money changers. We must accept Jesus fully and accept God's graces as we try to understand Him. We must not limit God by constructing our image of Him... we need to let God's image of God develop in our lives. I think that happens best through God's initiation of a gradual discovery on our part.
What do we do with and in our lives as that happens? Our readings tell us two ways. The letter of James tells us to live our faith by doing good works especially by helping the less fortunate obtain necessities for their bodies. The opportunities to make that happen are increasingly plentiful because the number of those in need is astonishingly increasing. The second way is similarly to follow Jesus, I think, by giving up one's own agenda and trying to live the fullness of the Gospel message. There are also many ways to do that; selecting one in particular means more prayerful discernment and more taking up of one's cross.
How will we answer the probing question of "Who do
you say I am?" this time when we hear it? May the Lord reveal more
of who I AM is to each of us. May we be willing to let go of our
inadequate notions of God and replace them with more trusting. May
we care for our brothers and sisters in Jesus along the journey.
(Comments to Lanie at lanieleblanc@mindspring.com.)