Questions, Questions - Family Reflection Video

Every day, we all answer questions. Some we can answer quickly and easily without too much thought. Others require careful reflection. 

Routine questions fill our daily lives. For example, "What should I wear today?"; "What shall we eat tonight?”; and “What are you watching on TV?"  These are questions that have no long-term importance. 

Some questions in life cannot be answered: “Why do men refuse to ask for directions?"; “Why do women open their mouths when putting on eye makeup?”  These are questions that not really significant. 

However, some questions in life are very significant. Think about the following questions: “Will you marry me?"; “What will we name our child?”; and “Doctor, what is my diagnosis?" These are all questions that have lifelong implications. 

Then, there are other questions that people have grappled with over the centuries. These questions continue to call out to us and prompt us to keep reflecting. Look at this conversation between Jesus and His disciples. As Christians, we are especially concerned about the two questions that Jesus asked His disciples.  

The first question was easy enough to answer, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples knew that people were saying that Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. 

The second question Jesus asked his disciples required a little more thought, “But who do you say that I am?” The implication of the question was that what people were saying about Jesus didn’t do justice to who He really was. Peter answered the question on behalf of the other disciples, “You are the Christ,” the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. Jesus did not dispute this title, but it was an ambiguous title that could have different meanings for different people. When Jesus continued to say that He would be a suffering Messiah who would soon be put to death, Peter’s very negative reaction to this news showed that this wasn’t the kind of Messiah he had in mind. Jesus’ subsequent rebuke of Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!", must have shaken Peter to the core. 

Of course, we don’t know what the other disciples would have answered. It is conceivable that there might have been other opinions among the twelve. One can only guess what Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus, or Thomas, who was known for his skepticism, might have said in answer to Jesus’ question. 

How would you answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Would you say he is a prophet, the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of the living God; or, more personally, Jesus is my teacher, my healer, my ethical guide, moral compass, a close friend and companion, or my savior? I am going to borrow a line from a popular game show and ask you, “Is that your final answer?” 

Peter had a lot to figure out about who Jesus was. The question Jesus asks us, "Who do you say I am?" is one of those questions we will never be able to fully answer in this life. When it comes to Jesus, we always have more to learn, more to see, and more to experience. This will be so until that eternal moment when we will come to know Him well, as He knows us now. 

Jesus asks us, “Who am I for you today?”

• Today’s readings

• Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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