Prime Bishop Anthony Mikovsky
To Declare Your Faith
During the past few Sundays within our liturgical year, we have encountered a number of parables about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is compared to a situation where weeds are sowed among wheat, like a mustard seed and like yeast in a measure of dough. These parables encourage us to consider how the Kingdom of God is all around us but is also fraught with difficulties that we must overcome.
We have likewise encountered the miracle of our Lord feeding the five thousand with only five loaves and two fish. There we saw that within the Kingdom of God we must strive to give what we have, even if it is only a little, into the hands of our Lord for His use. We also saw two different situations where someone’s faith is described. When Peter is walking on the water and sinks when he draws his attention away from our Lord, Jesus admonishes him as one with little faith. When the Canaanite women will not be deterred when she is calling after our Lord, Jesus remarks that she is of great faith.
Now all of these Gospel episodes lead us to consider the Gospel reading we have on the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, where we hear Peter’s declaration concerning our Lord.
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then He sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.” (Matthew 16:13-20)
This Gospel reminds us that in our journey of faith, we often spend quite a bit of time learning about the faith, just as the disciples did in following our Lord during His ministry. And we must confess that this is still vitally important. The disciples followed our Lord for three years during His earthly ministry and we today, spend time in catechetical instructions for First Holy Communion and later for Confirmation and hopefully we spent years in the School of Christian Living and continue to attend either Bible studies or Christian adult classes so that we can better understand and know the content of our faith. But this knowledge, while vitally important, is not really what we are called to as followers of Jesus. It is the preparation for the call, but it is not the totality of the call.
We must go beyond this. We see this journey beyond in the two Sundays where Jesus speaks of the faith of Peter and the Canaanite women. Peter was able to do a certainly miraculous thing when he asked Jesus to allow him to walk on the water. When Jesus said to Peter, “come,” he was able to start out walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter turned his attention away from Jesus and “noticed the strong wind,” he began to sink. Our Lord’s response to this was to say to Peter, “You of little faith.”
In comparison, in the Gospel reading concerning the Canaanite women, she did no particular thing that was dramatic or miraculous. There was no miracle at all. She only steadfastly followed our Lord and called out to Him for mercy and help regardless of what
happened. To this woman Jesus replied, “Great is your faith!” These two situations allow us to contemplate what it truly means to have faith and trust in Jesus. And it is this that now leads us to the Gospel for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time when our Lord asks His followers, “Who do you say that the Son of Man is?”
This question is of paramount importance, because our Lord does not call us, as individuals, to do anything miraculous. We are not called, as individuals, to walk on water for instance, but each and every one of us, each follower of Jesus, is called to give an answer to this exact same question.
We certainly honor Simon Peter and all of the apostles with him, who gave the answer to the question, “You are the Messiah (the Christ) the Son of the living God.” But we must now ask this question: What is my own answer to this important question?
It is also important for us to realize that this question was asked in the city of Caesarea Philippi, in the capital city of an area outside of Jewish territory. This city was one that was filled with a number of pagan temples, both of alien gods and mortal figures. And within this place, this area where so many other things are worshiped, our Lord asks His followers, “What do you have to say about Jesus?”
This reality is important because we find ourselves, in some ways, in exactly the same sort of situation. We are surrounded by many things that strive to draw, not only for our attention, but seek to have our devotion. There are many things that we may possibly set up as idols within our own daily lives. We may not like to think of them in that way, because that seems somehow embarrassing, but it is true, nonetheless. In fact, whatever we place before our faith, trust and devotion to Jesus, is an idol we worship.
So we return to the question, “Who do you say that Jesus is?” Our catechetical studies that we mentioned above have certainly taught us the correct answer. It is the answer of Peter, “He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But is that an answer that is only held in our head, or is it the answer that penetrates our entire lives.
So we go further. Is our belief and trust in Jesus informing and sustaining each and every day of my life? Do I wake up giving thanks to our Lord for another day to love and serve Him? Does our relationship with Jesus really have an effect on my daily living, or is it just something that concerns me on Sunday? Are my thoughts, words and actions influenced by the teachings and lessons of our Lord?
All of these things, and many more besides, are what it truly means to confess that “Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” So my brothers and sisters, I encourage you to take seriously your confession of faith. While it may begin with the Creed that we recite at Holy Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, let that be only the beginning. Let our belief that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, inform every action, every thought and every word. Let your entire life be a witness to your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
There is a wonderful prayer that is a part of the Individual Morning Prayers found within our PNCC Prayer Book. I encourage you to make these prayers, which are a wonderful beginning to each day, a part of your life of daily prayer and supplication to God.
I thank You, God, for this new day that You have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. I will offer You all my thoughts, words and deeds throughout this day. With Your help, O God, may I not displease You. May all Your holy angels and saints pray for me. May I serve You faithfully by fulfilling Your holy will in everything I do. Bless me, Lord, and protect me from all evil until that time when I will be with You in Your kingdom forever. Amen.
Almighty Father, I believe in You; strengthen my faith. Centered in You, Lord, may all my hopes for this day be secured and may they fulfill Your will. I adore You as my first beginning and I aspire after You as my last end. Teach me to love You more and more each day, so that I may love You with all my heart. Amen.
My Lord Jesus Christ, I dedicate this day to You. I desire to commit all of my thoughts, words and actions to You. With Your help, O Lord, may I think of You constantly throughout this day. May I speak of You and of Your loving care to all who will listen. May I serve You faithfully by being kind and helpful to others with every opportunity You give me. I desire that Your will be done in everything I do this day for Your greater glory.
O Holy Spirit, as I begin this day, enlighten my mind, inflame my heart, purify my body and sanctify my soul with Your holy grace. Be with me throughout the day and so strengthen me to control my passions and overcome temptations, that I may strive to lead a virtuous life. Fill my heart with tender affections for what is good and right and true. Help me to be sensitive to the needs of others, faithful to my family and friends, loving to my neighbors and charitable to my enemies.