Proper 16 Year A 24 August 2008

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But who do people say that I am?


It sounds like that could have been treated as a rhetorical question and if one of the disciples hadn’t started the roll of answers; we might still be pondering it. Can you see Alex Trebek? Can you hear the Jeopardy music? Can you see the fear of getting that final all important question wrong.
I have to give Peter the Lion’s badge for courage

But who do others say that I am?

When I served in North Jersey, I had the privilege of getting to know a very distinguished attorney who regularly attended the parish. He was a wonderful supporter of the parish and a very convincing speaker, which was precisely why I put him as head of the stewardship committee. This meant that at least four times a year, and perhaps more during the pledge drive in the fall, he would he would have to talk about the Christian responsibility to stewardship and it’s relationship to faith. Here was a man who made a living standing up in front of juries and arguing high-profile cases. There was always a lot at stake and he could argue on his feet in ways that were brilliant, yet he found it very painful to stand up and speak about himself, his faith and commitment in front of the whole Church. Rumor still has it that you could see his legs shake when he left the sanctuary. Now I know that public speaking is feared by many, so much so that it out ranks the fear of death far more than we would guess; however, it would take me many years before my friend the lawyer would confess his reasons.
But who do others say that I am?
Peter the impulsive and impetuous responded, “You are the Messiah”, the son of the living God. Peter’s whole body must have shaken at that point, when he and the others realized what he had said out loud. Note, none of the other disciples congratulated Peter or patted him on the back. After all, what he had blurted out was blasphemy and that was punished with stoning. His legs had to have been as unsteady as the lawyers, for the disciples were all quiet after Peter’s statement. Can you hear the silence?

Who do you say that I am, Peter?

Both sides of this Gospel reading, the beginning and the end, deal with the predictions of the passion; it is no longer presented as a rhetorical question. Time was running out. The disciples needed to know the whole picture and they had to understand. Questions like how can this be or what should we do in light of this situation were no longer relevant. Jesus had to know that they understood the whole plan or the whole thing could fail. Over the next two references to the Passion, Jesus silences the apostles, teaches them, instructs and prays with and for them. I can’t believe the disciples didn’t talk among themselves and wonder who this Jesus really was. After all, we know they didn’t really get it until Easter and they don’t act on it until Pentecost.
So, who do you say He is?
That’s the question, isn’t it? Together and separately, even now, that is the question isn’t it?
We all have our own images of Jesus. He is the one who we petition at the prayers of the people; sorry I haven’t been around much again Lord, but I really need your help again. He is the one we make promises to and later have no problem forgetting. True we all have our own ideas as to who we think Jesus is;
Son of God – yes. Messiah – yes. Christ – yes. Savior, Messiah, Lord - check, check and triple check, but to so many even good people, those are words that have different degrees of power depending on the relationship with the Lord that already exists.

This weeks reading is about Jesus’ identity. Here Peter and the subsequent Christian community got it partly right and partly wrong. Much was made of Peters’ correct observation of Jesus but I believe way off in Peter’s justification to rule.

So it’s back to you. Who is this Jesus to you? More accurately, where does he live in your heart? How close is your relationship.
Now, don’t get me wrong; not everyone will have to speak publically and no one will be ridiculed for interpreting some things wrong. But not knowing this life and relationship to us is not to know the power and its peace.

Two thousand years ago, a man was born in a conquered country of the Roman Empire. He grew to maturity without ever leaving the land of his birth. But from that life there emanated power, love and life, such as the world has never known.


So, to each of us’ He continues to ask, Who DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

Amen
The Rev. Denise P. Mantell