'But who do you say that I am?' 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

St Peter the Apostle, El Greco, painted 1610-14

Readings

New American Bible (Philippines, USA)

Jerusalem Bible (Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, Scotland)

Gospel (NAB) Luke 9:18-24

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him,

he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”

Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”

He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

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The Only Question That Matters

Biblical Reflection for 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time C

By Father Thomas Rosica, CSB

TORONTO, JUNE 15, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The second half of Luke's Gospel is one great pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the city of destiny. For Luke, the Christian journey is a joyous way illuminated by the graciousness of the Savior of the world.

Along that way, Jesus asks a very important question of his disciples. "Who do you say that I am?" is the same question asked of every disciple in every age. From this moment onward in today's Gospel, Jesus is on his way to the cross. Everything he says and does is another step toward Golgotha -- where he will demonstrate perfect obedience, perfect love and total self-giving . . .

Remembering Tor Vergata 2000    (World Youth Day 2000, Rome) 

One of the most powerful and memorable reflections on Jesus' identity took place on the night of August 19, 2000 during the evening prayer vigil at Tor Vergata on Rome's outskirts during World Youth Day of the Great Jubilee. I shall never forget that hot night, when silence came over the crowd of over one million young people as Pope John Paul II asked them the only question that matters: "Who do you say that I am?"

The elderly Pope addressed his young friends with those words that rang out over the seeming apocalyptic scene before him: "What is the meaning of this dialogue? Why does Jesus want to know what people think about him? Why does he want to know what his disciples think about him? Jesus wants his disciples to become aware of what is hidden in their own minds and hearts and to give voice to their conviction. At the same time, however, he knows that the judgment they will express will not be theirs alone, because it will reveal what God has poured into their hearts by the grace of faith."

The Holy Father continued: "This is what faith is all about! It is the response of the rational and free human person to the word of the living God. The questions that Jesus asks, the answers given by the Apostles, and finally by Simon Peter, are a kind of examination on the maturity of the faith of those who are closest to Christ."

One of the most powerful and memorable reflections on Jesus' identity took place on the night of August 19, 2000 during the evening prayer vigil at Tor Vergata on Rome's outskirts during World Youth Day of the Great Jubilee. I shall never forget that hot night, when silence came over the crowd of over one million young people as Pope John Paul II asked them the only question that matters: "Who do you say that I am?"

The elderly Pope addressed his young friends with those words that rang out over the seeming apocalyptic scene before him: "What is the meaning of this dialogue? Why does Jesus want to know what people think about him? Why does he want to know what his disciples think about him? Jesus wants his disciples to become aware of what is hidden in their own minds and hearts and to give voice to their conviction. At the same time, however, he knows that the judgment they will express will not be theirs alone, because it will reveal what God has poured into their hearts by the grace of faith."

The Holy Father continued: "This is what faith is all about! It is the response of the rational and free human person to the word of the living God. The questions that Jesus asks, the answers given by the Apostles, and finally by Simon Peter, are a kind of examination on the maturity of the faith of those who are closest to Christ."

Full text here. Photos of Tor Vergata, WYD 2000, Rome, from EWTN.