21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (A)
MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Glorious
TABLE OF THE WORD: Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20
THEME: Who is Jesus to you?
THE WORD:
"Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13-14)
The personality of Jesus is quite difficult to explain unlike that of humans, it is difficult in the sense that He has a double personality: Divine and Human (except in sin). We cannot define Him based on His human attribute. While some sees Him as one of the ancient prophets who has return, many see Him as John the Baptist who came to prepare the way for the Messiah and others may have a different notion of Him.
In his essay on the emotional life of Christ, theologian B. B. Warfield describes the two dangerous tendencies that the church has exhibited in its attempt to understand the humanity of Christ. One is to lean so far into his divinity that the human is undermined. The other is to err in the opposite direction and so rob him of his divinity. “Between the two, the figure of Jesus is liable to take on a certain vagueness of outline, and come to lack definiteness in thought” Warfield warns. We must do justice to both dimensions of Christ’s nature without somehow allowing each to cancel out the other or ending up with a hybrid being who is neither truly God nor truly man.
In as much as we hold on to the two personalities of Jesus: the human and divine, Christ was more divine than human, that is why He was free from sin.
In summary, the personality of Jesus can be summed up in the virtues of compassion and justice. These virtues are therefore an invitation to each and every one of us to exhibit same so as to be qualified to be called "Chriatian."
INSPIRATION
My dearest friend(s) in Christ, wishing you (all) the best of this evening. Indeed, we are grateful to God for His love, faithfulnes and leading us thus far.
In our day-to-day experience what can we say about the personality of Jesus? Do we see Him as all and all in us? Or are we defining Him according to our daily situation?
Absolutely, we don't need all these to define who Jesus is to us. The definition of His personality has nothing our personal thoughts but our encounter with with Him in various circumstances.
Finally, as we retire after the fatigue of our daily task, let us take our minds back reflecting on who Jesus has been, who he is now and who He will be tomorrow? Indeed, He was, He is and He will forever be that same man of Galilee who is always there for us even when we are all asleep.
Peace be with you!
PRAYER
O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
+ May the Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
(c) The ARCHIVE 27082023
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