Spiritual Direction: Who do you say Jesus is and why is this important?

Who do you say Jesus is and why is this important?

Today’s article on spiritual direction is based on a closer look at who do you say Jesus is?  If you are reading these articles you either have a strong testimony of who Jesus is or you had strong knowledge and understanding at one time or another and would like to regain that feeling once more. 

Read over the following and see if you need to read any more of this article?

• Are you the type of person who attends Church once or twice a year?
• Are you the type of person who realizes that their child needs to be baptized but doesn’t attend Church themselves?
• Are you the type of person who was baptized in the Church but never received any more of the Sacraments?
• Are you the type of person who attends Church for funerals, weddings, or baptisms? 
• Are you the type of person who believes in a creator but is not so sure about the Church?
• Are you the type of person who goes to Church to be entertained?
• Are you the type of person who likes to attend Church and gets there every time the doors are open even before the priest opens them?

If you answer yes to any of these questions you need to read this article.  The reason you need to read it is that it will help you in your life.

First look at what Peter said to Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 16: 13- 20

13. When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.”

20 Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

“Some say John the Baptist,* others, Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Who is Jesus and why is this important almost 2000 years after he lived on this earth?

Who?

The confession of Peter is the key here.  He clearly and plainly identified Jesus Christ as the Messiah- the Son of the Living God. He recognized this fact while the others may have known they did not act on it or speak out about it.  Brother and sisters, we have entered into times like these now.  Are you afraid to speak up or out? Are you worried about what others may say or think? Maybe you have quit believing entirely-maybe now you are too busy for Him.  You have turned your attention to other things. 

Why? 

I have one question for you, did God turn His back on you? Has God quit believing in you because you do not believe in him?  Do you really want a God like that?

Just yesterday I saw a posting on social media.  It showed a smiling man who said,” My wife treats me like God.”  Then in the next picture, it shows him depressed and said, “She ignores me, doesn’t talk to me unless she wants something.”  Unfortunately, too many of us find ourselves in this type of situation with God for real.  This is wrong, wrong, wrong-God loves us and wants us to go back and live with Him. He doesn’t want us to forget him any more than he can forget us. After all, created us in His image.  He gave us the ability to use our brains positively to help others. We must use what He gave us so that we might all go to live with Him forever and ever.   Amen