The Question of Identity

8/9/2018

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

Matthew 16:13-23

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

In today’s reading Jesus asks his disciples an important question – who do people say that I am? They quickly respond with a litany of important prophets – John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other greats, but Jesus wants to get at the heart of the matter – who do you say that I am? I can imagine they’re all caught off guard, stumbling around for words, looking towards the ground trying to think, asking themselves this important question, ‘who is Jesus?’

You see, the disciples have been following Jesus for well over a year now. They’ve seen him perform some of the greatest miracles of healing and the most astonishing miracles of nature. They’ve seen him teach with such authority like no other prophet before him has. But are they truly and utterly convinced that he is the one who has come? Is he the one whom the prophets spoke about? Is he God?

In a moment of almost shock and awe Peter speaks up – you are the Christ, the Son of the living God! What I love about Peter is that he reminds me of Jacob from the Old Testament. What I mean by that is he is so passionate that sometimes he acts before he thinks and makes some bad mistakes along the way, but at the end of the day, he so longs to know who God is that he’s willing to wrestle with him to find the answer. This characteristic is also what makes Peter so great. I get the sense that he’s been wrestling between his head and his heart trying to understand who Jesus is, and in a moment of revelation he boldly blurts out this great proclamation of identity that seems to even surprise himself.

Peter was right. Jesus is the Christ. He is the Messiah, he is the savior, he is the one whom all the prophets spoke about, he is the one whom Jeremiah spoke about in today’s first reading – the one who will come with an everlasting covenant, the one who will give us a new heart, the one who will forgive and forget all sins, he is God!

And now we ask ourselves. Who is Jesus to me? For the life of a disciple this question is absolutely fundamental to the way we live each and every day. The way we answer this question will determine the time and the space we give to God each day. Spend some time in pray right now and answer this question honestly. Maybe you’re at a place where you need to be bold and proclaim for the first time that Jesus truly is the Christ – your everything! Maybe you’re like the other disciples, not entirely sure yet, not able to put together words to describe the role he plays in your life. That’s okay; be authentic, be honest, and allow God to reveal his love and his role in your life today.

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

What about Jesus' identity (who Jesus is) are you wrestling with? Do you believe he is who he says he is?

What about your own identity are you wrestling with? Do you believe you are who he says you are?

Who is Jesus to you?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"Who are you, Lord, and who am I?"

"You are the living God."

"I am a child of God."

Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

This question of identity is one we are constantly wrestling with, so today, spend some time writing down who Jesus is to you and who you are in the eyes of God.

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Today's prayer was prepared by Mike Monette, a theology teacher at JSerra Catholic High School in Orange County, CA.

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.

CARPE VERBUM