Daily Gospel Reflection for February 17, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Mark 8:27-33

Jesus poses a question to his disciples: “ Who do people say that I am?” He follows that with, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter’s inspired answer is, “You are the Messiah.” (In Chapter 16 of Matthew’s Gospel, we see Jesus’ reply: "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah . . . you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”) But, within a short time, Jesus is saying to Peter, “Get behind me Satan.”

We have to sympathize with Peter, because Jesus asks us the same question regularly, and we mess up in the same way Peter did. Where do we go wrong?

What are your answers when Jesus asks YOU Who He is? In the Bible, there are over 150 titles for Christ. In addition to Peter’s “Messiah," there’s The Word/Logos; Advocate; Good Shepherd; Wisdom of God; Desire of All Nations; Lamb of God; Deliverer; The Way, the Truth and the Life; Bread of Life . . . the list goes on. (Check out this link for more.) 

My personal list of favorites for addressing Jesus includes “Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior,” “Jesus Christ, King of Mercy," “My Redeemer,” “My Lord, my all.”

In the beautiful poetry of sacred song, we find more ways to address Christ, as the Holy Infant; Most Afflicted, Sacrament Most Holy; The Church’s One Foundation; Jesus, Lover of my Soul; King of Heaven (and on and on, once again).

So how do we shift these “names” of Jesus from our head to the depths of our souls, just as St Peter was eventually able to do…through prayer, worship, and meditation, often and intentionally.

Ponder:

Who is Jesus to you? Create your own favorite list of titles for your Lord, using them and meditating frequently upon the meaning of those titles as you go about your day.

Pray:

Holy Spirit, bestow upon me the gifts of knowledge and understanding, that I may know and worship my Lord and Savior as I ought.

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What are your answers when Jesus asks YOU Who He is? #dailygospel

Copyright 2022 Charlene Rack