This Sunday could be called “Power Sunday” because the theme of all three readings is that God is the Source of all authority. God shares His authority with elected civil rulers to serve the people and with the Pope and the other Church leaders for the material and spiritual welfare of His children. The first reading, from the prophet Isaiah, tells us how God hates unfaithful and selfish officials. In the Psalm, David thanks God for having raised him from lowly origins and given him authority as king over the people of Israel. In the second reading from Romans St. Paul praises God for the depth of His wisdom, knowledge, and correct judgments, asserting that He is the Source of all authority on earth and in Heaven.
We need to accept and experience Jesus as our Lord and personal Saviour: First, we should accept Jesus as the Son of God and our personal Saviour. Next, Jesus should become a living experience for us – protecting us and providing for us in our life’s journey, loving us, forgiving us, helping us, and transforming our lives. We must praise and thank God in all the events of our lives, both good, pleasant and painful, realising that God’s loving hands are behind everything. When we find the joy, the love, and the peace we find in Jesus, they must be reflected in the way we live our whole lives. Further, by giving humble, loving service to others we are giving the statement that Jesus is present in every person.
In the Gospel Jesus asked the question “Who do you say that I am?” There were two parts to this question about his identity. Jesus first asked “What is the public opinion?” The apostles’ answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. “The phrase “one of the prophets” suggested that Jesus had a ministry like that of the former prophets. When the people identified Jesus with Elijah and with Jeremiah, they were, according to their traditions, paying him a great compliment and setting him in a high place, for Jeremiah and Elijah were the expected forerunners of the Anointed One of God. When they arrived, the Kingdom would be very near. The second part of the question was: “What is your personal opinion?” Peter, speaking for the other disciples, declared publicly: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter was the first apostle to recognise Jesus publicly as the Anointed One. Peter said that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one of God, Immanuel, the Salvation of God — God who became Man to save sinners! Jesus was very pleased with Peter’s answer. Peter then received a special blessing: “Blessed are you, Simon son of John!”. He was the only disciple in the Gospels to receive a personal blessing. Jesus was quick to explain to the disciples that he was not a political Messiah. He was, rather, a Messiah who must suffer, die, and be raised to life again.
On the theme of “Who am I” there is this story: When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch), he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was hungry. As Herter moved down the queue, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line. “Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?” “Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.” “But I’m starving,” the governor said. “Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.” Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. “Do you know who I am?”he said. “I am the governor of this state.” “And do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the Lady in Charge of the Chicken. Move along, Mister.” —This is a short, and simple, story about two people, Governor Herter and the Lady in Charge of the chicken, each trying to exert authority over the other by saying– ‘who I am.