There is a rather humorous story told about the 1st President Bush, #41: George Herbert Walker Bush.
He was out one day doing some public relations work by visiting a nursing home. He came upon a
wizened old man pushing his walker along down the hall. President Bush took the man by the hand,
looked gently into his eyes and said, “Sir, I’m very pleased to meet you. . . do you know who I am?”
Confused, the old man looked back at the President and said, “no, I’m really not sure who you
are” – then whispered: “but I bet if you asked one of the nurses, they could help you out!”
Jesus was not asking his disciples if they knew who he was because he did not know the answer
to the question – or he needed a boost to his ego by having them tell him. . . No he was asking them if
they knew who he was so they could be sure of his identity – and consequently place all their hope in
him --- because the going was about to get rough --- and so the rough needed to get going. Next week
in the Gospel -- Jesus is going to set his eyes on Jerusalem – the place where all prophets go to die --and if his disciples are going to make that journey with him – they need to be absolutely sure of who he
is --- absolutely convinced – that he is the Messiah.
A true story: the silent screen actor, Charlie Chaplin, once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike
contest in Monte Carlo. Imagine his surprise when he came in third place!
Makes you wonder if Jesus miraculously came back to earth and entered a Jesus look-alike
contest – would he win? Or would he come in third, or tenth, or last? – because the judges aren’t really
certain who Jesus is. . .
So – who is Jesus, really? Perhaps the more important question: who is Jesus, really – for you or
for me?
We have to be absolutely sure of who Jesus is – if we are going to make the journey to
Jerusalem along with him: if we are going to give up our lives in pursuit of the kingdom of God.
So—who do you say Jesus is --- is Jesus a friend? If so, do I share my most intimate thoughts
with him as I would a good friend or confidant? Do I converse with on a regular basis? Do I share my
hopes and fears, my joys and sorrows with him? Do I ponder his words and examples as I find them in
the life-giving words of Scripture? Do I lean on him both in good times and in bad?
Who do you say Jesus is? Is Jesus your Savior?
In his book Vision 2000, the Jesuit writer Mark Link, tells of a navy helicopter pilot who was telling his
parents all about helicopters. He said that as complicated as helicopters are, their rotors, the blades are
all held in place by just a single bolt. He added, “we pilots simply refer to it as the Jesus bolt.”
If Jesus truly is our Savior – then is he the one that holds our life together? And consequently do
we place him at the center of our lives – giving him not our leftover time, talent and treasure – but the
first fruits those things. If Jesus truly is our savior, then our lives would revolve around him – and not
around our money, our possessions, our hobbies, or our choice of sports.
Who do you say that Jesus is? Like the disciples we can get some idea of how to answer that
question by listening to other people.
Writer Jack Pantaleo – says: “Jesus is not just an aspirin tablet – to be used only when you have pain in
your life. Rather he should be seen as a lover, who holds us in a tight embrace as we travel this
headache called life.”
Cistercian Miriam Pollard, poetically says: “Christ is my music, my horizon, my sea, and my sure
foundation.”
Pope Francis, quoting his predecessor Pope Benedict – says that “Jesus is a person who gives life a new
horizon and a decisive direction.
Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but a daily encounter and a
developing relationship with -- the person of Jesus Christ.”
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Francis continues on his own: “Jesus is someone who brings joy into the life of every Christian. Why is
it, then, that there are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter?” [Joy of the Gospel 6 & 7]
Who do you say that Jesus is? The answer you give that question will set a horizon for you – will set you
off in a decisive direction – one in which your heart becomes a fertile place where the word of God takes
root – and produces fruit. One in which when the going gets rough –
you keep on going because you know if Christ if for you – then who can be against? One in which you
do absolutely outlandish things like loving those who hate you, doing good to those who curse you –
because if Peter can get out of a boat and walk on water, and a virgin can become the mother of God,
and the once poor Lazarus can have life everlasting ---- then nothing is impossible with God.
Albert Einstein once said, “there are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a
miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
How are you going to live your life? It certainly helps to answer Jesus’ question of the day: who do you
say that I am. . .
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