Pastor’s Corner for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, by Rev William (Billy) Davies

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples a foundational faith question:

“Who do people say that I am?” He follows this up by asking His closest followers, the disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”

Responding to His questions, the disciples appear to flounder to come up with a decisive answer. We hear a range of answers, and only after a while does Peter get it right.

But is there a reverse question to Jesus, “Who do you say I am?” that we all need to reflect upon and answer? The answer to this reverse question is as fundamental to our faith as Jesus’ questions in our Gospel, and the question that we need to reflect upon and answer is, “Who does Jesus say I am?”

When calling us all to our Christian life, to be His followers, Jesus extends a unique invitation to each of us. If we reflect on our own faith, our actions, and the way we live out our special calling, how will we answer those questions?

This week, let us all spend some time and ask ourselves, Who am I in my Christian and Catholic life? How do I honestly see myself, and, more importantly, How does Jesus see me?