by Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
13Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
v14″Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet. “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?” v16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
v17″Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. v18And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. v19I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-19
Since their recruitment the disciples have been travelling with Jesus’ itinerant preaching in the different regions of Palestine. They heard his teachings, received his instructions, witnessed his miraculous acts, and in numerous moments prayed with him. Our gospel lesson this Sunday (Proper 16 or 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time) brings us to a place near Caesarea Philippi. In that place and time Jesus called the disciples to a moment of truth. Jesus asks the disciples two big questions. The place is very significant and has a connection with Jesus’ questions, “Who do people say the Son of Man is… Who do you say I am?” I can only surmise that these questions could be Jesus’ way to appraise how his mission in the world is going. Are the disciples and the people understanding who he is? What do they say about him and what he is …? Or Jesus’ way of leading his disciples and us to who really he is?
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The territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi is an area about twenty-five miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee. The region had remarkable religious implications during that time. Hence, Jesus’ questions are pertinent as to who he is as perceived by the people and his very disciples. The place has several temples of the Syrian gods. Here also was the elaborate marble temple that had been erected by Herod the Great, father of the then ruling Herod Antipas. Great also is the influence of the Greek gods and Caesar is also worshipped as god in this region. We can describe the place as a ‘cafeteria of world religions’. This is the backdrop that Jesus chose to ask the most decisive questions of his ministry. “Who do men say that I am?” The disciples begin sharing with Jesus what they have heard from the people who have been following Jesus: “Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet.(v.14) Jesus has been perceived by the common people in so many different ways.
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I love this illustration from one sermon website: ‘People see things differently all the time. For example, three people – a minister, an archaeologist, and a cowboy – were getting their first look at the Grand Canyon one day. The minister exclaimed, “Truly this is one of the glories of God!” The archaeologist commented, “What a wonder of nature this is!” And the cowboy said, “Can you imagine trying to find a lost steer in there?” People see things differently.
The Messianic hope of those in the Jewish community who held such a belief was that the Chosen One would reestablish the supremacy of Israel among the great nations of the world. The assumption was that this would be accomplished in a violent and vengeful manner, with the forceful overthrow and total destruction of the current ruling powers. But before this happened, the prophet Elijah would return to herald the coming of the Chosen One. As a result of these hopes, Jesus had to somehow communicate to his disciples and others who had such high hopes for him that what he was offering was something completely different from what they expected. (Johnny Dean, The Pop Quiz)
During that time, and I believe the same today, you can say that Jesus is a prophet, holy man, teacher, or spiritual leader, and few will object. But speak of Him as Son of God, divine, of the same nature as the Father, and people rise in wild protest to express their disapproval. This was the underpinning political and religious reason why Jesus was condemned to the cross. The leaders at that time particularly the religious leaders could not accept him to be the Son of God or Messiah based on their assessment of his background.
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“Who do people… and you… say that I am?” Jesus asked his disciples. Jesus as a human person wants to know what the people think about him. Why did Jesus ask such a question?
What was the need? I believe that the crux of this question is about the human need of being appreciated or recognized. Jesus as a human person on this presumption wants to know how he is faring in his earthly ministry. An evaluation of what he has done or failed to do is what these questions try to establish, don’t you think? Connectedly, it is also a query about His identity from what the people and his disciples see in his life and work. At this point, let me take a complete turn-around of this situation. Let us ask ourselves, “Who do we think we are?” and to be more relevant “Who are we in this SARS COVID-19 pandemic?” I am firmly convinced that this must be asked of all who profess Jesus as their Lord and Master if we are to be faithful in our believing that He is the Messiah, Divine, and the Son of God, Savior of the world. Now, what is our pandemic identity?
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Human nature needs an identity and generally necessitates expressions of popularity and fame. Our digital norms could easily attest to this. There are people, who count on their lives with how many friends they have in Facebook and how many contacts they have in WhatsApp. An ordained minister observes that ‘often, we end up checking out ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ for our posts: photos and materials that we share in Facebook. We ponder over who liked and who didn’t like. We judge the persons based on it. Based on it, we decide our own identity. We live in a virtual community rather than real people-oriented community.
I believe that during the lockdowns, ECQs, MECQs, GECQs and more protocols that the pandemic generated, we have realized how many are real friends, how many are fake friends, how many have called us often enquiring about our families, health, jobs, and how many were really cared and supported in their difficulties and pains during this pandemic, COVID-19. More often than not, we give importance to what others think, say, and express the opinion about us. Our identity is decided by other people. Can the others decide what I am? Of course not! But then, what is my… your identity? Specifically, your or my identity during this pandemic?
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According to human brain experts, ‘knowing oneself is the best identity that we can have in our lives. We may believe what the other person says, we may believe what the other person thinks, and we may believe the other person’s opinion. But, it cannot influence us when we know our identity by ourselves quite well. What we know about our identity is limited and finite.
What we do not know about our identity is unlimited and infinite.
A psych-theologian posits, ‘If we are limited and finite, there is something unlimited and infinite, who controls the universe systematically. Our belief and our faith, reveals that God, is the All-powerful, Almighty, who created each one of us and the creation of the world according to His purpose in a particular country, in a particular language, in a particular culture, in a particular ethnic group, in a particular caste, in a particular tradition, and in a particular situation.
God has a purpose in creating each and every thing and each one of us in a particular moment, in a particular time, and in a particular way.’
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Jesus asks the disciples: “But who do you say that I am? ”This question is a personal question to his disciples. In other words, Jesus asks his disciples: “Tell me who I am by what you have experienced being with me.” It is a very personal question. And it is a direct question too.
Jesus wants to know what his disciples think who he is. Peter genuinely, proudly and uniquely gives an answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Observe the change: “it is changed from ‘the Son of Man’ to ‘the Son of the living God’.” Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. It was the true self of Jesus. Jesus is not the son of flesh and blood. But Jesus is the Son of the Heavenly Father, living God. It is a hidden identity as we read (Isaiah 22:19-23):
“I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station.”
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Many asks amidst the unresolved rampaging pandemic, “What happens now? Where is God in this seemingly hopeless situation?” We remind those people who ask us these questions: where is your God? Our God is the living God, not a dead god. He works throughout the day and night to keep us safe. It may be pandemic, but I am with you, says He. Our God is the Heavenly Father, who loves and cares for us. Our God is Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the living God, who saves us from all harms, evils, dangers and lays down his own life for our own salvation and our own identities. Yes. Let us proudly acknowledge like Peter, Jesus is our pandemic identity. We may be insignificant on this vast universe. But, our identity as a darling daughter or son of the Living, Heavenly, Messiah, Jesus our Brother is with us all throughout our life journey. We surrender that we cannot control a tiny virus alone.
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Nonetheless we believe the Messiah, Christ Jesus, fights against the pandemic and he saves us from all the viruses. Jesus is our pandemic identity. Jesus will never ever forsake us. He should be our identity in whatever situation in this life. I would like to conclude the reflection with a story popularly used in sermons:
“A famous stained-glass artist was commissioned to make a huge portrait for the window of the cathedral in Chartres, France. First, he laid all of the pieces he was going to use out on the floor of the cathedral. Among these awesome pieces of glass was a small, clear piece about as big as a fingernail. As the stained-glass portrait was assembled, that little piece remained on the floor. Only the big colourful pieces were used. On the day of the window’s completion the entire city gathered to witness the unveiling of the portrait. The artist pulled down the cloth cover and the crowd gasped at the beauty of the colourful window glowing in the sunlight. After a few seconds, however, the crowd grew silent. They sensed that something was missing, that the portrait was unfinished. The great artist then walked over to where the little clear piece of glass lay, picked it up, and placed it in the portrait, right in the centre of Jesus’ eye. As the sun hit that little piece, it gave off a dazzling sparkle. The work of art is now complete.” (eSermons.com)
Without the small piece, the work was incomplete. In the grand design of building the church of God, each one of us could consider ourselves to be that small but indispensable piece of glass.
That is our identity. Yes, dear sisters and brothers Jesus is our pandemic identity. The biggest identity of our lives.Bottom of Form May the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen..
Let us pray.
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.(ECP-BCP Proper 16 Collect)**
