Who Am I?

Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-20

In the Gospels there is a measuring stick that identifies the extent to which a person understands who Jesus is.  It is expressed in a variety of titles people give to Jesus:  sir, rabbi, prophet, Messiah, Son of God/Savior of the world.  In today's account, the disciples relate what people say about Jesus, all of which see him as a prophet.  When Jesus asks them who they say Jesus is, Peter steps up to use the titles of Messiah and Son of God, for which Jesus praises the answer.

Yet two verses later Peter will be rebuked for really not knowing what those titles meant, for he saw them in political/military terms and not in the Suffering Messiah.  But in many ways Peter's answer to the question of who Jesus is misses the point, for the answer is found in the question itself - who am I.  The answer is "I am."  Jesus is the presence of God on earth, God who is with us in our hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows.  And that presence is all we need in our lives.

When Jesus asks us who we say he is, he is not looking for a theologically precise definition from Chalcedon or 20th century Christology.  The question is not a catechism quiz.  It is a personal, spiritual, mystical one.  The answer is simply the one Jesus gives at his arrest - I am - for he is simply God's presence among us, the one who is with us in our celebrations and in our mourning.  God is not a warrior, king, or emperor.  God is simply the one who shows up and is present to us at all moments of our life.

Of Titles and Fineries

Gospel:  Matthew 23: 1-12

What Jesus has to say about titles, honors, and fineries of religious leaders is addressed to his disciples, not to those in religious authority.  The latter group would not listen to such criticism.  There is hope that Jesus' followers themselves might heed these words, but as anyone with functioning sensory systems knows that sadly these words of Jesus will go unheeded throughout history to our own times and places here and now.  

Everyday we see clergy seeking political power and influence in seats of privilege.  We hear clerics state how humbled they are to be invited to be guest preacher at a church whilst broadcasting such humility far and wide on social media.  The endless shopping for religious garb and fineries that keep up with the titles of privilege and power sought by priest and pastor carries on as if these words of Jesus were never spoken at all.  

Meanwhile, Jesus went about wearing simple garb healing people of their infirmities, freeing them from the demons that plague them, and feeding them at table.  No media train, no self-promotion, and in fact a running from crowds and attention highlight Jesus' work in the world.  That the words and example of Jesus have little actual impact on the Christian Church is all too obvious and scandalous.  But his life and words are still there for those who seek the authentic way of religion.     

Disingenuous Questions

Gospel:  Matthew 22: 34-40

Today's Gospel portion seems ordinary on the surface.  The Pharisees ask Jesus a question about the law, and Jesus answers it.  No controversy ensues, and it moves on to the next scene.  But there is more to this passage than meets the eye.  The Pharisees approach Jesus because they saw that he had rebuked the Sadducees, their bitter enemies.  They see in Jesus a potential ally, and so they approach him with a question about the law to see if he might in fact be one of them.  

Their question about the law is not a sincere one.  There is not a desire to know the truth about the matter.  The question serves only to see whether Jesus agrees with them or not.  As it happens, a great many Pharisees would in fact agree with Jesus' answer to the question.  To love God above all else and to love one's neighbor is an answer many rabbis and scholars of the law would agree as the foundations of the entire Jewish law.  But the answer is incidental in this case.

This passage serves as a caution for us.  Do we approach Jesus with questions because we sincerely want to know the answer, or do we approach Jesus with a desire for him to agree with us?  How much of religion is about creating images of God and theologies to support our preconceived positions!  Yet, authentic religion is about the quest for wisdom and truth that informs and shapes our lives to deeper commitments of mercy and love for others.