Who is Jesus?

XXI Sunday A Matthew 16, 13-20

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so, I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. Jesus’ question for the disciples in the Gospel is the same question for each one his disciples today. “Who do you say that I am?” This is the central question of the Christian faith, who is Jesus? And not just to say who Jesus is as far as historical information but to say who he is in relationship to ourselves. Who is Jesus for me? Who is Jesus for you? Who is Jesus for our community. I don’t know much about Benito Juarez. I know that he was president of Mexico around the year 1850 that he was indigenous, and I think he was a good president. But if you wanted me to give a class on Benito Juarez, I could probably do it. I would study up on him. Maybe read some books, talk to some historians. I could then tell you who Benito Juarez was, but this is not the question of Jesus. Jesus obviously knew who he was, he knew who his parents were, where he was born how old he was. No, Jesus’ question for the disciples, Jesus’ question for us is “who am I for you?” What does it mean to you to have a relationship with me? This is the key question of our faith. It isn’t if we know the 10 commandments; the 9 choirs of Angels; the 8th day of the week; the 7 sacraments; 6 days of creation; the 5 books of the Torah, the 4 gospels, the three persons of the trinity, the two natures of Christ. No, the only thing that matters is that if we know who Jesus is, and if we begin to have a relationship with him. So, take a moment right now, “who is Jesus for you?” who is Jesus? You are Jesus the only begotten Son of the Father! You are Jesus the Messiah, the gift of the Father. You are Jesus my savior. You are Jesus the word made flesh. You are Jesus the one Lord. You are Jesus, my very best friend. This is the only thing that matters. That we know who Jesus is, and that we help others to know Jesus as well. The Gospel ends with Jesus giving Peter the keys telling him that he will build his church on his confession of faith. The same is true today. The church continues to be built upon Peter’s confession of faith, upon our confession of faith. The Church doesn’t exist to set up rules and laws. The church exists to help people come to know who Jesus is. The slogan of Holy Redeemer Church is a parish of open doors. What does this mean? It means that we are Church that is open to all, we are a Church that exists to help people to come to know who Jesus. We exist to make Jesus known.