DAILY BIBLE DEVOTION

 

Who Do You Say That I Am?

This is one of my favorite Gospel

Passages. It's a question that I have

often used for meditation both for

myself and for classes I have

taught to both teens and adults.

It's a question that I think we need

to reflect upon often as we can lose

sight of the importance of Jesus in

our lives. And the answer can

change. He might be friend,

brother, Lord, Savior, shepherd,

leader, companion - or just

someone we have heard about. One

teen answered the question by

saying that Jesus was a nice man. Is

that all he is? What about the Son

of God - Divine? Does it make a

difference in my life if I believe

that Jesus is God, the Second

Person of the Blessed Trinity who

came to save mne from eternal

death by his dying on a cross? Does

it make a difference in how I live if

I believe that this is not the end?

This is a time for getting to know

him better so that I can also live

eternally in heaven with the

Father. I know this because of the

resurrection. Yes, Jesus can be my

friend and companion, but he is so

much more than that. By his life, I

know how to live. By his dying and

rising, I can face my own death

and the death of those I love

because he has shown me that this

is not the end. In this today's

gospel, Jesus tell us that we must

pick up our cross and follow him.

Are we willing to deny ourselves in

order to follow Jesus? What am I

being asked to change in my life,

right now? I am so glad that we are

reminded each we read this

question that Jesus asks - not just

the disciples - but us as well. Who

do I say that Jesus is for me, today?

Prayer

Loving God, you sent us your son

to save us. May we come to know

him better in all the fullness of his

Divinity and his Humanity. Amen.