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Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.”

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Although Peter understands who Jesus is, he still doesn’t understand the implications of that.

As Savior of the world, Jesus must suffer. And as his disciple, Peter must suffer, too. That’s a truth he will struggle to accept for the rest of his life.

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Like Peter, how often we shy away from suffering for the Lord.

We lose our temper when we should hold our tongue. We give into temptation, even when our conscience urges us not to. 

We ignore the poor when we pass them on the street. We’re selfish with our time; slow to forgive; private about our faith.

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“Get behind me Satan!”

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It is the strongest rebuke Jesus ever says – and he says it to Peter for not embracing his cross. 

Yet Jesus will still entrust Peter with the future of the Church, because Peter’s a model for all of us. He reminds us about the paradox of Christianity.

Our faith is a constant story of flight and return; of sin and forgiveness; of failure and redemption.

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“Who do you say that I am?”

“You are the Christ.”

May our words and actions reflect this truth today.

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Perhaps what distinguishes five-star hotels from the rest is service.

When you arrive, the valet will take your car. The bell-hop will take your luggage to your room.

The next morning, you can call down for room service; a maid will bring you fresh towels, make your bed, and maybe leave a chocolate on your pillow.

They are all there to serve you.

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Too often Jesus is treated like a bell-hop. He is only here to serve us.

In the Gospel, for example, people lay their sick in the marketplaces, the town center, outside their homes, on the edge of town. 

Wherever they can lay them. 

They’re not after Jesus or his heart; they’re after his power.

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It seems to be part of our human nature to take things for granted – and by extension – to take God for granted.

We’ve all known a fair-weather friend. Such a person always comes around when they need something from us. But they disappear when we something from need them.

Then there are Catholics who only come to Church for a sacrament – a baptism, a wedding, a funeral. But they never give back. 

The Church only exists to serve them.

The same can be true for God. It’s a timeless temptation to knock on heaven’s door when we need the Lord.

But are we there when the Lord needs us?

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The final command that Jesus gives to Peter – and by extension – to all of us is to, “feed his lambs.” Meaning to care for the poor, to visit the sick, to clothe the naked, to be generous to all.

God has already given us so much. How might we give a little back today?

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Snacking may very well be the new American pastime. According to a recent survey, 94% of Americans admit to snacking at least once a day. 

50% admit to snacking three times per day!

I spoke to someone earlier who said, “Father, I suffer from lack-a-snack-a-phobia.” 

“Lack-a-snack-a-phobia?” I said. “What’s that?”

I’m afraid of missing a snack, so I always carry a bag of chips in my purse!

Someone else said to me, “Father, I must be in that 6% that doesn’t snack. I have a drink instead. Then I eat!”

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If you think about it, there are plenty of opportunities to sneak something sweet or salty in between meals.

There are the Hershey kisses hidden in our office drawer; that bag of chips tucked into our purse; or whatever we can find in the pantry when we get the late nite “munchies.”

And there isn’t just one cause for snacking. 

Some snackers are hungry. But most of us snack when we’re tired, stressed, or bored.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about opening a bag of Rolled Gold pretzels and popping a few pretzels while trying to turn your brain off.

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The key ingredient behind nearly every snack is salt. 

Just a pinch of it goes a long way. 

On the other hand, the absence of salt makes food taste incredibly bland. For example, have you ever had a pretzel without any salt?

It’s flavorless, if not borderline disgusting. 

I even tried a bag of “low sodium” pretzels. Never again. It felt like I was eating cardboard. Pretzels, like almost every snack or dish out there, need a good pinch of salt.

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In the Gospel, Jesus tells us, “You are the salt of the earth.”

Not, “You should be.” Not, “You may be.” Not, “You might want to think about.” No. We are the salt of the earth.

We flavor the world around us, much like salt flavors a pretzel. 

And we only need to offer a “pinch” of salt – a “pinch” of love – to begin changing the world around us.

A little love – like a little salt – goes a long way.

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But so does a pinch of hatred.

As Christians, we must sprinkle a pinch of love – not hate – throughout the day.

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How many of our children, for example, open up their lunch box at school only to find a note from mom or dad?

A few words of encouragement can turn their frown upside down.

Or think about how good we feel when someone offers us a compliment. “Did you just get your haircut?”

“Yeah, it’s a little short. What do you think?”

“Looks great!” 

Everyone loves affirmation, particularly young people who often struggle with developing a health self-image.

For them and for us, a little love goes a long way, much like a pinch of salt.

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So how can I be a saltier Christian?

Maybe it means taking the time to visit someone who’s sick; re-directing a conversation drenched in gossip; being a little more considerate, a little less judgmental; or kinder to those at work.

The opportunities are endless – and simple.

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94% of Americans admit to snacking. 

And most often, we snack because we’re stressed.

But if we show one another just a little more love – a pinch of salt, as it were – then we may find ourselves smiling more and snacking less.