Ordinary 21

The Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

Peter is not the first nor the only person to make such a declaration. How can we not be challenged to remember that demons know who Jesus is: “You are the Son of God” [Luke 4:41]. A disruptive man with an unclean spirit cries out, “I know who you are, the Holy One of God” [Mark 1:24]. The villagers of a Samaritan town declare, “We know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.” A private moment caught in both the light of the day and in the mind’s light of the observer. [John 4:42].

However, I find on the issue of faith the most hope and encouragement from the declarations of two women.

Consider the Samaritan woman who encounters Jesus at the well. It is first an unexpected encounter. She has most probably gone to the well at midday so as not to meet anyone and in that expected void is a presence, Jesus. Their challenging conversation causes the woman to pose the question to her fellow villagers, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” [John 4:29].

In contrast, Martha, the sister of Lazarus, is anxiously waiting for Jesus to arrive because her brother has died. After her encounter with him, Martha proclaims, “I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world” [John 11:27].

Both encounters with Jesus, unexpected and anticipated, show us that the act of faith is rooted in a meeting with Jesus. How else do any of us know another person but through numerous encounters and honest conversations? Anything else is assumption, judgement or presumption. And how often do we presume the worst about another person? How much of our assessment of each other is guesswork?

Moreover, is it not risky to base any opinion about another person after only one encounter, even a few? How many relationships, that could have become deep friendships, have you and I all passed over because of an initial shallow judgement?

The spiritual journey involves numerous encounters and honest conversations. The discussion of the Samaritans woman’s checked past with numerous husbands or Martha’s …disappointment? …anger? …that Jesus is too late to stop her brother from dying. Such honesty lacks fear because it is grounded in mutual respect.

We lament that so many young people do not believe. Our children and grandchildren do not go to church. The Sacrament of Confirmation has become a Sacrament of Exit from the Christian community. Have we considered that many people, particularly the young, have not as yet encountered Jesus? Or are willing to ask the uncomfortable, yet honest, questions we are not: “Could he possibly be…?”   Have we grappled with this Jesus of Nazareth, like Jacob wrestling with the angel throughout the night? Do you and I believe that Jesus is the Son of God simply because we grew up in a fishbowl of Catholicism? …a fishbowl that broke decades ago with its presumed secure waters spilling out causing us to flounder.

In this light, “Could he possibly be…?”  and “I have come to believe…” are wonderful, honest declarations reflected not only in these women’s spiritual encounters with Jesus but that of Simon Peter. Remember when he calls out to Jesus to walk with him on the storm tossed waters and falters, Jesus say to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” We wince when we hear Peter’s three fire lite denials in ear shot of Jesus no less as Luke records. “O you of little courage…”  Jesus may have called Simon a “rock” but that rock had to be forged in the volcanic struggle of faith before Peter could proclaim, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” [John 21:15–17].

In all encounters, Jesus deeply desires to meet us and meet us where we are at in life: in the midst of our grief and anger like Martha; isolated and shunned like the woman of Samaria; in our false sense of self like Simon Peter. Where are you in your life?

The more important question may not be “Who do you and I say Jesus is?” but “What has led us to make our statement of belief?” realizing we may not quite have a full answer as yet.

Thus “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” may not be as primary as “Could he possibly be the Messiah?” and “I have come to believe that you are the Christ…”