by the Rev. Frances A. Hills, Rector
This reflection on the scriptures followed a presentation and slide show by Susan Frantz on her mission trip earlier this summer to the Mampong Babies’ Home in Ghana.
“Who do you say that I am?” It’s Jesus’ question for all generations. When I was in seminary, however, we learned this Gospel a little differently: Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am”, and Simon Peter answers, “You are the Messianic Parousia, the Pre-existent Logos, the Eschatological Anticipation of the Cosmos.” And Jesus says, “Say what?”
Joking aside, who we say Jesus is is all-important to our spiritual lives and to the spread of the Gospel. Notice what impressed Jesus in Peter’s answer was probably first, that he answered at all. None of the others said a word! Jesus was also impressed with the freshness and spiritual correctness of Peter’s words: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God”. No one had ever called anyone that before. It came from Peter’s heart and from his experience with Jesus. They were Peter’s own words…not from text books, seminary classes, theological studies, or what he thought he was supposed to say. Jesus praises Peter for his answer. In fact he blesses him for it, because Jesus knew Peter’s answer was the right answer, and that it had come from God. It was divinely inspired!
So it’s really important when people ask us about our faith (first) that we say something! And it’s important to have a heart-felt, personally experienced response. We don’t have to worry so much about its theological sophistication or about what might be expected. What’s important is that we let God inspire us, not only in our answers, but in our daily lives. So that the Jesus we describe is the Jesus we really know. So that we can pass it on to those who are curious and hungry for truth and hope.
Now in this story, Jesus claims it is God who tells Peter who Jesus really is; but then notice it’s Jesus who tells Peter who he really is. He’s the rock on which Jesus will put together his church. The Message Bible expands this with, “A church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out…You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven.” That’s who Jesus tells Peter he really is! And I believe Jesus tells each one of us who we really are: Each one a beloved child of God. Each one unique!
In the Romans passage this is expanded by Paul, who says, “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.”
Certainly Susan’s mission trip to Ghana, Jake’s teaching mission in Honduras, and what happens in Gideon’s Garden put real flesh on the truth of this: We are all parts of one body with different gifts. The Message notes: “Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around.” And so we can each consider the abilities we have as gifts, things God has given us and done for us. They are not things we manufacture for ourselves.
Paul encourages us just to do what we’re gifted to do. The Message says it this way, “If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else. If you help, just help, don’t take over. If you teach, stick to your teaching. If you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy. If you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate. If you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond. If you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.”
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