Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Luke 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The Chosen is a widely acclaimed historical drama about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Each episode allows viewers to engage their imagination as they dive deeper into the personalities of each character, the culture and terrain of ancient Palestine, as well as other little details that are often excluded in the Gospels.

Perhaps most importantly of all, the series makes people feel like Jesus, Peter, and the other disciples are real people.

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While I’ve not seen the entire series, I’d imagine today’s Gospel would be included in one of those episodes. 

The disciples have just returned from their first missionary journey, where they themselves were given Christ’s power to cast out demons and heal people in his name. Now they’ve reunited while their Master is deep in prayer.

Suddenly, Jesus pauses, turns to them, and asks them two questions: “Who do the crowds say that I am?” … And, “Who do you say that I am?”

I imagine James and John looking down at their sandals, kicking a pebble or two. Maybe Judas is jingling the coins in his pocket. And Thomas is deep in thought asking himself the same question, “Who do I say that Jesus is?”

Breaking the tension, Peter pipes up and gets it right: “The Christ of God.”

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While Peter may have saved the group from an uncomfortable evening lecture around the campfire, the other disciples represent where so many adult Christians are at today. 

When people ask us about who Jesus is, we can feel tongue-tied, as if the answer is just on the tip of our tongue, or hidden somewhere deep in our heart, yet we struggle to bring it to the surface and share.

Yet the Lord longs for us to be well versed in the faith, the same way Peter was that day.

As it’s been said, “You may be the only bible a person ever reads.” 

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Image credits: (1) Christ Pantocrator, Sinai (2) The Chosen, Deadline (3) St. Peter’s Church

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Gospel: Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The fact that King Herod remains haunted by the death of John the Baptist is a sign that Jesus’ public ministry is working. 

The Lord has given his authority to the Twelve Apostles, not only to preach, but also to cast out demons and cure diseases of every kind. 

Hope in a different king is spreading.

This stage in the development of the Church reminds us that preaching and healing go hand in hand; we cannot simply speak about the kingdom of God. We must also back our words up with action.

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For example, I ran a bible study in a prison in Rome for three years. Week after week, I’d teach a handful of inmates about what Christ said, including, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.”

So when one of the inmates complained about being cold, I brought him a beanie to cover his head. One of the guards noticed and asked me why I’d do such a thing,

I responded simply, “How can you believe in God with a cold head?”

That man was Christ in distressing disguise.

A belief I not only needed to teach; I also needed to act on.

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Much like the Apostles who not only spoke about the kingdom of God, but also did something about it, our faith must always be supported by our actions. As Saint James reminds us, “Faith without works is dead.”

What might it look like to put our faith into practice today?

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Image credits: (1) Be Still… (2) The Catholic Miscellaney (3) QuoteFancy

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Gospel: Luke 9: 1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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On the surface, it seems as if the Lord is stripping his disciples bare, making them fend for themselves, totally reliant upon the charity of others. 

While there is an element of truth to that, on a deeper level, Jesus is building upon a Jewish tradition, which the Apostles would’ve understood. 

In ancient Israel, it was customary for a person to part with their walking staff, shoes, and money belt, and to cleanse the dust from their feet before entering the Temple to pray, allowing them to address God without any other distraction.

After leaving the Temple, that person could gather their belongings and re-enter the world.

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By instructing his disciples to part with all of their possessions before preaching and healing, Jesus is teaching them to treat the entire world – including every person they meet, and every home they enter – as if it is within the Temple.

Everything and everyone is holy, a potential dwelling place for God.

As Christians, we’re called to maintain that same perspective, treating all as another Christ. As Jesus later instructs his disciples, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.”

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But we should also remember this: if the disciples are going out without a thing to their name, then they’ll need the good will and support of their neighbors along the way.

While the Gospel should always be preached free of charge, it is an honor to care for those who have given their lives to preach it.

Perhaps this is what the Lord is asking of us today: to see the world as holy; to care for the poor; and to support those who preach the Gospel – not only by their words, but also by their very lives.

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Image credits: (1) The Order of Preachers, Independent (2) Sonlife (3) Hope with God Radio