YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.

XXI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 16:13-20

If we feel attracted and seduced by Jesus and wish to become his disciples, then we will have to answer the same question he asked those who followed him: “Who do you say I am?” This is a question that cannot be ignored or put aside. It is a very personal question that must be answered by each one of us and that answer must be echoed and affirmed in the community of disciples, that is in the Church. Simon answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And this answer is so important that it became the foundation of the Church, the rock upon which the Church is built.  There is no Church and we cannot be called Christians without the affirmation of faith made by Simon Peter. The gospels were written to lead us to Jesus and recognise him as the Messiah, the Son of God, so that in him we may have salvation: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (Jn 20:31).

There is no other purpose for evangelisation but to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ. That is Jesus’ commandment: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20)

Nowadays, there are many people, even leaders in the Church, who question themselves about the validity of evangelisation. Based on the falsely great values of woke ideology - diversity, equity and inclusion - they see evangelisation as offensive proselytism that denies diversity and despises the values of other peoples and cultures. If the gospel of Jesus Christ is faithfully proclaimed, it constitutes a challenge to any culture and all cultures. The motivations for proclaiming the gospel are never totally pure. Maybe, in our time, we would do things differently, but that does not mean that our motivations are holier and purer than those of our ancestors. Should we ask forgiveness for sins that we did not commit and for things that were not considered evil in past times? Afraid of causing harm and injury to others, we sit down and keep quiet, ignoring Jesus’ command and refusing to give clear witness to Him. Do we truly believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God? If we believe, we cannot keep quiet. Let’s proclaim at the top of our voices that Jesus is the Messiah and the Saviour, the Way, the Truth and the Life - because he is the Son of God.

A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE PEOPLES

XX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 15:21-28

Reading this Sunday’s gospel, we are shocked at Jesus’ attitude towards the Canaanite woman. He did not answer her plea and ignored her tears. To her cries, he answered with silence. He behaved as if he was not there, as if he was not touched by the plight of that poor woman. But she went on crying: “‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me.” Her cry was like the cry of the psalmist:

“Hear my cry, O God,

listen to my prayer;

from the end of the earth I call to you

when my heart is faint.” (Ps 61:1-2)

And in that woman’s voice, we hear the cry of the people who feel abandoned and left to fend for themselves:

“O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,

and by night, but I find no rest.” (Ps 22:2)

The apostles were puzzled. Jesus had always shown compassion, answering the requests of those who came to him in distress. Why was he keeping silent? And they pleaded with him. Although not moved by their words, Jesus explained his attitude. The woman was a foreigner and a pagan, and he had been “sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.” Was the scope of his mission so limited? Was he not the light of the world? Or the time was not yet ready? To the woman, he gave a similar explanation of his refusal, using the common language of the time.

This passage forces us to reflect on the silence of God before suffering. The psalmists had made that experience. Where is God when we mostly need him? So many times, we get tired of crying and receive no answer. Other times, the answer may seem to injure our dignity. This narrative of the gentile woman leads us to have a look at the Christian communities to whom Matthew wrote his gospel. The Christian Jews had been expelled from the synagogues and the mission to the lost sheep of Israel was in a great impasse. Meanwhile, many Gentiles were accepting the Gospel. Could they be accepted? Should the evangelists preach to them as well? Was the bread of life to be given to them or their time had not yet come? It seems as if Jesus wanted to delay the time for the universality of the gospel. However, with her insistence, the Canaanite woman forced his hand. And Jesus answered: “Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.” After the resurrection, Jesus would open wide the gates of his Church, ordering the apostles to go and preach the Gospel to all nations (Mt 28:19-209.

The universality of God’s plan of salvation was already hinted at by the prophet Isaiah. The foreigners can climb the mountain of the Lord and enter his holy temple. For that to happen, there is only one condition: to serve the Lord, love his name and cling to his covenant. And the house of the Lord “will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” (Is 56:6-7)

LORD, SAVE US

XIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 14:22-33

Elijah became the role model for all the prophets that came after him. He was committed, courageous and bold. He was moved by a deep jealousy for God, which made him an example of faithfulness, putting his life totally at the service of God. And he was in a continuous search for the living God, making the long journey - the journey of life - to the “mountain of God”. In his search for God - a search in which he was being led by God, since there is no other way of knowing God but being illuminated by God himself - he had to discard false ideas of God. At Sinai, Moses and the people of Israel experienced God in the “mighty wind”, the earthquake and the tremendous fire. Elijah realised that God is not in any of those: “But the Lord was not in the wind. (…) But the Lord was not in the earthquake. (…) But the Lord was not in the fire.” (1 Kings 19:9,11-13). And he experiences the presence of God in the “sound of a gentle breeze”. A true experience of God may begin with a sense of awe and dread, but as one comes closer and closer to God, He will reveal himself as the gentle and loving God who fills the heart with joy and peace. He is the God who saves and shares his glory with us.

In the gospel, we find the apostles alone in the boat “battling with a heavy sea”, while Jesus had remained behind in prayer. Then, very early in the morning, they saw someone walking over the waters and “they were terrified” as if they were seeing ghosts. In difficult times, when we have to struggle with uncertainty as to the outcome, we can see ghosts everywhere. Forced to recognise our frailty, we feel lost and lose hope, because we act as if we are left to our fate. It was then that Jesus addressed them with reassuring words: “Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.” Those words brought new life to their sinking hearts. And Peter became bold enough to attempt to do what Jesus was doing. Why not? If Jesus did miracles and showed extraordinary powers, we should try to do the same, shouldn’t we? However, as Peter went into the waters, he got frightened by the force of the wind and the battering of the waves and began to sink. Then, as if in despair, he cried out: “Lord! Save me!” The echo of that still cry reverberates, being repeated by each one of us: “Lord! Save me!” Left alone, we drown in deep waters. We cannot save ourselves. We need Jesus to put out his hand and hold us firm. Then, with the apostles, we will bow down before Jesus and proclaim: “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

LISTEN TO HIM

XVIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord - Matthew 17:1-9

In his second letter, Peter makes it clear that he is giving witness to what he saw and heard. What he says is not a fruit of any kind of dreaming or of “any cleverly invented myths”. He is speaking of someone whom he lived with and by whom he was touched deeply. And he was not alone; he was with his companions who heard the voice from heaven which said: “‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.’ We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.” It was this experience that led them to read the Scriptures as speaking of Jesus, the Messiah: “So we have confirmation of what was said in prophecies” (2 Peter 1:16-19).

In connection with the Transfiguration of the Lord, in the first reading, we hear Daniel speak of his vision of the Son of man, who presents himself before the throne of the “one of great age” to receive “sovereignty, glory and kingship”. His kingdom will be a universal kingdom “and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.” His empire will never be destroyed.” (Dan 7:9-10,13-14).

Jesus presented himself as the Son of man and when Caiaphas asked him about his claims to be the Messiah, he answered: “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mt 26:64). Jesus took for himself the role of the son of man announced by the prophet Daniel. It is about him that the Father says: “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.” In these words, the Father reveals the Son and, while doing so, commanded the disciples to listen to him. While Jesus’ glory was being manifested, “Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him.” They did not appear for the sake of Jesus, since they appeared to them (the disciples) as an indication that the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) speak of Christ and lead us to Christ.

The revelation of Jesus’ glory was so fulfilling to the apostles and filled them with such joy that they fell into ecstasy. They forgot about time and place and themselves, being filled with the desire of remaining there forever: “It is wonderful for us to be here”.

Speaking about the resurrection, Paul writes our bodies will be transformed in the manner of the glorious body of Jesus Christ (Phil 3:21). If Peter, still in his earthly body, felt such joy in contemplating Jesus’ glory, how much greater will be our joy when our bodies will be glorified like the body of Christ. For that to happen, we must obey God’s commandment: Listen to him.