Author: admin

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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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One of the most effective tools of evangelization in recent memory that has taught people about our Christian faith is the television series, The Chosen. 

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 others 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 the 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 and 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 today. 

When people ask us about who Jesus is, how often are we tongue-tied? As adults, are we actively studying our faith? Or do we tend to rely upon an eight-minute Sunday sermon? 

While that should be helpful, what might be other avenues of study?

Many have turned to daily prayer apps like Halo. Perhaps this blog is helpful. I’ve even heard people turning recently to AI. 

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So, “Who do you say that I am?” While we all say with Peter, “the Christ,” can we also dive deeper into why we believe that today?

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Image credits: (1) No Bible No Breakfast (2) The Chosen, Trinity Broadcasting Network (3) Vine Christian Centre

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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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King Herod wants a word with Jesus. But he’s denied the opportunity until Jesus is hours from his death.

According to Luke’s Gospel, after Pontius Pilate interrogates Jesus and finds no guilt in him, he sends Jesus to Herod.

Finally, Herod gets his chance. Yet when he begins questioning the Lord, Jesus is silent. 

Imagine having the opportunity to ask the Son of God any question you want, and he ignores you. 

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Why would Jesus be silent?

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He read Herod’s heart.

Herod did not take the Lord seriously. He was only interested in seeing a “sign,” as if everything Jesus did was a magic trick. As a result of his silence, Herod mocks Jesus, clothing him in a king’s robe, parading him around his court like a jester.

Secondly, Herod lived with a false sense of security. 

Surrounded by bodyguards, palace walls, hard and soft power, he was incapable of bending the knee. His attachment to worldly things blinded him to the King of Glory and to what became his day of judgment.

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Like Herod, we will all have our day with Jesus.

But Christians treat him, not as someone to be mocked, rather as the most important person in the universe. Whatever he says, we do. Wherever he goes, we follow.

As we often pray during Lent while reciting the Stations of the Cross, “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.” 

May we spend this day ready to meet the King.

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Image credits: (1) Saint Edward’s Crown, Wikipedia (2) My Catholic Life! (3) Prenger Solutions Group

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Gospel: Luk 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 will later instruct 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 share it, which is why the Church emphasizes the need for charity.

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) IMDb, This World (2) Truth for Life (3) Friar Musings