21st Sunday of Year A

As God brings you to acknowledge the divinity of Christ, may he bestow you with the graces to commit yourself more and more to the service of your needy neighbours. Happy Sunday! + John I. Okoye

DOCTRINE AND FAITH

(Isaiah 22,19-23; Romans 11,33-36; Matt 16, 13-20: 21st Sunday of Year A)

           Today’s gospel reading episode is so, exceptionally, important that the three Synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke narrated it. Jesus asks his disciples what people were saying about him: Who do they think he is? He applies to himself the messianic apocalyptic title Son of Man. The question is no self serving. Jesus seeks to discover how his words and actions are being interpreted by the people and he was also preparing the disciples for their own assessment of him. The answers to his question are eye opening. Some believe that he is John the Baptist; others that he is Elijah and still others that he is one of the other prophets. All these religious figures have already died. The people seem to believe that Jesus is a prophetic figure who has come back from the dead. When Jesus asks the disciples what their opinion about him was, Simon Peter speaks on their behalf and proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one of God. To this he adds the divine title Son of the living God. Using a macarism (Blessed are you), Jesus starts his discussion of the role Peter will play in the assembly of believers. Jesus insists that the only reason Peter could make such a testimony of faith was that Jesus’ identity had been revealed to him by God. With a play on Greek words, the Evangelist Matthew had Jesus declare that Peter (Petros) is the rock (petra) upon which Jesus will establish his church. Although, the image of a rock suggests stability and endurance, we should not presume that these characteristics are natural to Peter. Church (ekklesia) is probably a reference to the assembly of people, not the building within which they gather. Jesus promises that the forces of the netherworld will not be able to encircle the church. It is clear that this promise is not based on Peter’s strength. It is solely a gift from Jesus. For his part, Peter will exercise the power of the keys as a sign of authority. The symbol of keys refers to authority that is more judicial or disciplinary than managerial. Peter is given the authority to enforce laws and to exempt from their obligations. This does not suggest that Peter legislate. He rather interprets the Law, determining when it should be binding and when not. In a sense, Peter is cast in the role of chief rabbi.

         We have seen above the implication of Jesus’ question to his contemporaries. Supposing Jesus poses the same question to us, the Christians of today who encounter him in liturgical worship of the Holy Mass:  Who do you say I am? The question could be asked in various ways thus:  Who is this one who multiples loaves of bread, who walks on turbulent waters, who breaks boundaries that separate insiders (Jews) from outsiders (the other nations: pagans)? It is no other than the Messiah. When Peter testifies to Jesus’ identity, it was a relatively religious and political statement, for messianic expectations was a burning question at that time. But what does messiaship mean for us today? Many believers would consider messianic expectations a theological theme that belongs to the past. They feel that it is difficult to get excited about the coming of someone we believe has already come and gone. We ask again, if Jesus were to pose the same question today, how would we answer? And what would be the implication of our answers? Our answers could go thus: You are the Messiah, the one who would establish justice on earth, and I offer myself to you in this venture. You are the Messiah, the one who would ensure that the vulnerable of our society will not be exploited, and I will stand in their defense. You are the Messiah, the one who will usher in the kingdom of peace and I commit myself in the practice of peace. You are the Messiah, the one who will govern and direct the affairs of our country, Nigeria in fairness, honesty and equity, and I commit myself in fighting every aspect of corruption in all sections of our society. You are the Messiah, the one who will make sure that the material wealth of our great country is used to the benefit of every Nigerian regardless of tribe, religion and social status, and I commit myself to it by ensuring that I do not right, left and centre grab selfishly what does not belong to me and what is meant for the survival of my needy neighbours. You are the Christ, one who will put order in our disordered and confused country and I commit myself to it by living orderly in my family, my environment and in respect to all the people I live in their midst. You are the Messiah, the one who will refashion us into a holy nation and country and I open my self to this transformation.

         It was Peter who spoke up on behalf of Jesus’ disciples about his identity.  We recall that on the 19th Sunday of the year he attempted to walk on the tempestuous waters towards Jesus. One wonders if the faith he proclaims now has deepened or is this another form of bravado (a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate). Like Peter, we too may have good intentions, but when they are put to the test, we realize that was all they were-good intentions. Still we must not be discouraged by our weaknesses, for just as Peter’s failure did not deter God from entrusting him with power and authority, so ours need not be obstacles to God’s grace in our lives. We watch God entrust the Church to individuals who are weak and undependable, and we realize that God’s judgments are inscrutable and that His ways are unsearchable. The first reading assures us that God chooses Peter and others like him not, simply, because there is no one else to whom responsibility can be given. On the contrary, God works through those who are weak so there will be no question about the source of any success they may experience. This penchant (a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something) on God’s part also prevents us from using our own weakness as excuse for not committing ourselves to the service of God and others. We are, therefore, asked to open ourselves to God regardless of our limitations and weaknesses. The rest is in God’s hand.  Happy Sunday! +John I. Okoye

 (graphics by chukwubike )