In our gospel reading today, we encounter Jesus' two questions to his disciples. The first one, was a rather indirect one, where he asked "Who the people say that the Son of Man is?", as it seemed that Jesus was asking for the opinion of the people about the Messiah. But the second one was a more personal question directed to the disciples themselves: "But who do you say I am?" Interestingly, this gospel passage did not mention the disciples' opinion of who Jesus was. Instead, the gospel focused on Simon Peter's answer: "You are the Messiah, the son of the living God."
This gospel story reminds me of a scene from the documentary entitled "Supersize Me", where children were asked to look at pictures of people and identify who these people are. As expected, they easily identified the character of Ronald McDonald from among the pictures. But surprisingly, when a picture of Jesus Christ was shown, the kids were shaking their heads, indicating that they don't recognize or know who that person is.
Well, if you were in the place of the children asked, what would your answer be? What would you say about Jesus? Who is Jesus for you?
We can say a lot of things about Jesus. Our Catholic Christian upbringing could give us a spectrum of answers: the Savior, the Son of God, the Redeemer, the Lamb of God, the Jewish Carpenter, Incarnate God, Alpha and Omega, the Good Shepherd, and the list can go on and on. We came to know Jesus through others: through our parents and family, catechism lessons, in churches, in prayers, and in various forms of media.
While this is very important - all of us came to know Jesus first through others - it should not be the end of the ways we can know Jesus Christ. In fact, as the second question of Jesus to His disciples imply, our personal knowledge of Jesus matters very much. But what would be the quality of this knowing?
I remember one of the reactions when I introduced the topic on Jesus Christ in my CLE class: "Cher, si Jesus na naman?! Elementary pa lang ako Jesus na topic namin. Ngayong high school na ako, Jesus pa rin?!" Unfortunately, this "na naman!" attitude is none other than the usual contempt that develops from a superficial familiarity with someone or something. But then again, applying this to Jesus Christ, we may not know Him as much as we think we do.
There is a difference between "knowing about" someone and simply "knowing someone." What could they be? The first - "knowing about" - has a note of impersonality with it. When we simply know about someone or something it usually connotes distance, random facts, pure intellectual interest, bits and pieces, even gossip. The second, however, - "knowing" - rings with depth, devotion, and identification-with. To know someone is not simply to mean "I know him by name", or "I know this thing about him." In fact, we can only say that "we know someone", when we have started investing in that someone a part of ourselves that is important – values like trust, love, loyalty, or relationships like family ties and friendships.
Is this to say that "knowing about" is a "bad" way of knowing? Not at all. All of us have to start with "knowing about", but the process shouldn't stop there. We hope that our "knowing about" can be deepened over time, such that "knowing about" can be personally deepened and thus, we can truly "know" the person by having a deep personal relationship with that person.
Such is what this Gospel passage challenges to us today. We must not only "know about" Jesus, but truly "know" Him. And so, we ask ourselves: Who is Jesus Christ for you? How have you come to know him? And why is it important to continue deepening and developing your relationship with him?
Or better yet, when was the last time you went to Church for Sunday mass? When was the last time you opened your Bible? When was the last time you really spent time to be with God despite your busy schedule? When was the last time you had that thirst to know and love God more?
I end this reflection with a joke. What is the difference between the Bible of Protestants and the Bible of Catholics? Well, it is said that the Bible of Catholics smell like cabinet dust, or even cockroach eggs because Catholics rarely use or read their Bibles. On the other hand, the Bible of the Protestants smell like armpits because they use it regularly, even to the point of bringing it with them wherever they go, reading and studying the Word carefully, even highlighting or making short scribbles in their Bibles.
It's never too late to get to "know" Jesus and establish a deep personal relationship with Him. Sometimes, it even takes a lifetime to do so. The challenge is to see God in all things, recognize his presence in our midst, and lead us to follow him as a disciple in our everyday lives. As one of the prayers I learned in Xavier goes: "Grant, O Lord, that each day of my life, I may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly."
deo gratias.
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