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Today's Gospel: Luke 9:18-22

In today’s gospel passage from Luke, we read that Jesus is quietly praying in the company of his disciples. He pauses his prayer to ask them a question: “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

While the disciples come forward with a variety of possibilities, it is Peter who replies to Jesus’s direct question, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter’s answer – what is known as his “confession” – shows his belief when he calls Christ “the Messiah of God.” Jesus follows up with a stern warning that the disciples must keep this truth to themselves. When the truth comes out, he warns them, there will be great suffering followed by the most amazing of miracles. But now is not the time to share that information.

I often ask myself how I would have responded had I been among the disciples who were asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Would I have been a strong believer, or would I have harbored doubts that plagued me and kept me from fully committing to the truth of what Jesus taught? Even today, I can ask myself this question.

Who do I say that he is? What do I believe? How do my actions speak the truth about my own “confession”?

Ponder:

Who do you say that Christ is? How do your actions reflect or disavow the words you profess?

Pray:

Jesus, Messiah, I believe that you came to lead, to love, and to save. Help me to truly confess the love I have for you and your teachings, in word but especially in the actions I undertake.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Lisa Hendey