Friday, September 27, 2024
Theme: YOU ARE CHRIST
Readings: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, Psalm 144:1b,2abc, 3-4, Luke 9:18-22.
Everywhere in Uganda as you move on you will either see a school or a sign post for a particular school. This is a sign that education is the most urgent project for parents at this time. During the time of Jesus Christ the evangelization was the only duty to be done by our Lord Jesus Christ and his 12 Apostles. However, it is well known that Jesus did not have any fixed place of formation for his disciples. There was no seminary, there was no university with a Theological Faculty nor a fixed church where Jesus instructed and formed his disciples on faith. He taught and instructed them as he moved along from one place to another.
Today as he is praying, Jesus wants to verify with his Apostles his own identity before he could give a lesson on faith. What did the public have of his identity? What do people say that I am? He was not motivated by pride just to know how popular he was. Jesus knew that the popularity of the person does not change his real personality or identity.
Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, that is the Lord’s anointed one. When we connect these names “Jesus” and “Christ” we get the broad meaning of his mission, which culminates in the mystery of the Cross. Jesus Christ had been set apart by God for the work of redemption through the way of the Cross (Mark 8:31). He did not shy away from telling them about the Cross since it was through the Cross that his full identity as the saviour will be revealed. However, he warned them not to tell anyone about this (Messianic secret). Christ says yes to God’s plan (Philippians 2:6-8). God raises him to greatness (Philippians 2:9). For us to be great we too must be united with Jesus through our daily prayers. God also chooses us Christians by virtue of our Baptism to do the work of evangelization. We are anointed for God’s work. Let us therefore not model ourselves on the behavior of the World but have a new mindset that discovers only the will of God (Romans 12:2).
In the darkest hour of World War II when Churchill told his people that he had nothing to offer them but “blood, sweat and tears” an image the world understood well. To the Jews blood had a special significance. As Jesus reveals his identity as Peter confesses, he predicts his passion and death, in which he poured out His blood for our redemption.
The identity of Jesus should impact our lives:
1. As Christians, will our answer to the identity of Jesus survive the test of time?
2. Will it survive the circumstances of time or life? (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11).
3. When you are disappointed for example, is Jesus still your Lord and Provider? or do you look for another god?
4. When you become rich, who is Jesus to you?
5. When you become sick who is Jesus to you?
We must interiorly through prayer unite ourselves to Christ in his suffering. We must respond to God’s call by virtue of our Baptism to share in the Paschal mystery. We must open our hearts to the redeeming blood of Christ through the reception of Sacraments. We must be one with Christ in self-giving, in a life of unselfishness and charity, regardless of what the cost may be in blood, sweat and tears.
Lord, if we have died with You O Christ, we believe that we shall also live together with you. Amen!
Fr. Kwehangana Bagubwa Mathias,
St. Charles Lwanga Seminary, Nyakibale.