21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends,

In today’s Gospel, Jesus poses a question to his disciples but it can really be directed to all of us: “Who do you say that the son of man is?” If someone were to ask you, “Who is Jesus to you?”, how would you respond? This is an important reflection because our answers may change with different seasons of life. Rather than look to the answers that the disciples gave, I invite you to answer with your heart. Is Jesus your friend right now? Is He your savior? Is He someone that you talk to occasionally but then forget about for the rest of the day? One of the stories about St. Francis of Assisi is how a brother watched him pray and heard him say the words: “Who are you, God, and who am I?” These are two questions that are central to our Catholic faith.

As I ponder on these questions myself, I find myself drawn to the words of the 2nd reading: “How unsearchable are the ways of God” and “For who has known the mind of the Lord or been his counselor?” (Romans 11:33-34). God is so much bigger than ourselves and far more complex. Whenever I get lost in my thoughts or anxieties, it is helpful to remember that I do not have to have everything figured out and can submit all of my concerns to God. He not only understands us, but loves us more than we can possibly imagine. Everything doesn’t always have to make sense.

Reflecting on who God is and who we are allows the Lord to speak to us in a special way. I encourage you to pray with the questions, “Lord, how do you see me?”, “What are my best qualities?” and “Where do you want me to grow?”. Then, we can turn our attention to God and ask, “Lord, how do you want me to see you?”, and “Where is my image of you wounded or twisted?”. The more time we spend with the Lord in prayer, the more clarity we will have into who God is and who we are. With a steadfast desire for intimacy with God and honest self-awareness, we will start to build the confidence that St.Peter had when he responded, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Together with all the disciples today, let us sit with the question that Jesus poses and seek our own personal answer. May God bless you!

Amy Burghardt
Communications Manager