Humility, service, love, compassion, teaching, and passion all in one.
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"Who do you say that I am?" How do you respond to Jesus question asked of his Apostles? It is the question every person who meets Jesus must confront. Write an answer to this. Include one picture, the "best" picture, of Jesus you can offer.
"Who do you say that I am?" This question by Jesus to his Apostles is a question that still reflects today. We are called to truly identify Jesus in our lives through asking this question. It is our response that defines us. As we look into the question we begin to realize how much this question appears in our lives.
If I were confronted by Jesus in person and asked, "Who do you say that I am?", images of vast characteristics of Jesus would overwhelm my mind. The characteristics of compassion, teaching, service, divinity, humility, humbleness, love, mercy, joy, sadness, and passion appear and begin to mold my image of Jesus. My response would be, "Lord and Savior, I have seen your compassion, mercy, humble service, and overwhelming passion. Truly I cannot define you and all of your greatness. You are the Savior and my Messiah, but there is so much more to learn that I long to know, but will never know. Please understand my response Lord Jesus, for you are the Lamb of the world."
My response I believe is one of many. For example, Peter, Jesus' Apostle answered that Jesus was the Messiah which is very correct, however, Peter didn't realize that Jesus had to suffer and die. This act of Jesus' passion is known as the messianic mystery. My response admits that I dont understand Jesus completely and have no right to define him and his greatness. All I have come to know through my previous knowledge of him is that he is the Messiah, Lamb of God, Son of God and Man, and a wonderful teacher who taught by example.
I encounter this questin numerous times in my life and it is important for me to identify him in my daily life. I see him at mass, I see him in people, I see him in nature, and I see him in creation.
When I am at mass, I see him in the Tabernacle, the Gospel reading, petitions, and the joyous singing of the congregation. We see enthusiasm and joy which is perfect in representing Jesus because Jesus was the Joy of the World. We also come to believe that the Gospels tell the life of Jesus, so we listen attentively to the reading so we are to further explore into Jesus' heart.
I see him everyday in people, from someone who kindly opens the door for someone or a firefighter saving a child from a burning/collapsing building. Jesus taught us by example and tells us that love should dominate our words and our actions. When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman or ate with the sinners, beggars, and tax collectors, love radiated to all and he accepted everyone.
Nature and all of creation show God and Jesus' love for us. Lord God gave us mountains, plains, rivers, amd wonderful creatures so we could further explore the beauty of God's creation. We come to recognize that the peak of God's creation was Jesus, and he sent Jesus so that we could learn about God and how to live. By discovering the wonders of nature, we further expand on the glory of Jesus Christ.
We are all confronted with this question everyday in our lives and it is our response that defines us. We see this question in people through their words and actions, we see it in Gospel and while present at mass, and we see it in the beauty of nature
"Who do you say that I am?"
What is your answer?
Humility, service, love, compassion, teaching, and passion all in one.
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