When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciple, who do people say the Son of man is? And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ But you, he said, ‘who do you say I am? Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’. Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. (Mt 16, 13-19.)
Those people that met Jesus were only gradually understanding him. People spoke about him according to their own personal expectations. The disciples embarked in a journey of following Him. By seeing the miracles he performed, listening to his words, the way He touched the lives of people, they slowly came to know him. It was only after the Lord’s Resurrection that they came to a better understanding of who Jesus really was and recognized in Him the Christ. God with us.
Yet when Peter dares to answer the question put to them, Jesus tells him: this is not human knowledge but it was revealed to you by my Father in heaven. Being able to recognize who Jesus is, was not only the result of a personal effort, but it is the work of God who reveals himself.
Now this same questions is addressed to each one of us followers of Jesus Christ. Each one needs to answer personally: Who is Jesus for you? Who do you say I am? It is a personal question, in the answer we also find our identity and our vocation. Besides He is also a personal God who gives us his Spirit. And the Spirit will teach us everything and make us understand.
We too need to learn by being his disciples, by following him, and learning from him. We too get a gradual understanding and need to be open to the Spirit.
More important that just words, our response is our own life. It is the testimony of my life what says who Jesus is for me. The way I live and believe and engage in my daily live: It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognise you as my disciples. (John 13,35).
In our own experience we realize that we do not have answers to all our questions, we are in the process of learning and discovering. But it is important to continue asking ourselves this question, always able to recognize the presence of God in our daily lives, in the various circumstances or our lives.
For all of you who are looking to deepen your commitment in life and discern what God is asking from you, this is an open invitation to make this journey together by sharing all your questions and together look for answers in the sure hope that the Spirit of the living God with illumine our minds and bless our efforts to come to a better understanding and recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives and be able to answer in the most appropriate way.
