Who He is

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionaryremind us of how we hear and act, perhaps unconsciously, in ways to anticipate our own success and recognition that we should be privileged. The letter of James identifies a problem in the community to which he was writing where partiality was shown in seating and attention to the rich. The hope that some of the good fortune and success of the rich may accrue to us through our special attention to them may lie behind this action. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the tone of James rebuke of the rich may seem somewhat Marxist to our ears. The Christian treatment of wealth continues to be a challenge. In his apostolic exhortation EvangeliiGaudium - "The Joy of the Gospel" Pope Francis reminds of our misapplication of wealth through the falsehood of the “gospel of prosperity”. Friar Jude reminds us that gifts from God, like wealth and position, are for the service of others. Mark Latta of Creighton University echoes Pope Francis and presents the answer of Peter to Jesus question from the Gospel of Mark at Caesarea Philippi about who He is as “You are the Messiah”. Friar Jude compares Peter to the blind man in the Gospel of Mark from yesterday who is healed in stages. Peter does not fully understand that Jesus is not the conquering leader to return Israel to the time of the Kingdom of David as he tempts Jesus to abandon His prophesy of rejection and death at the hands of the religious authorities. The action of Love which confronts the power of false gods and privilege through Presence with the poor and seeking to welcome the outcast is the momentous decision which Father Robert Barron declares Jesus puts before us all at Caesarea Philippi. The magnificent video series Catholicism sets this scene of decision in a strong manner for our consideration.