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Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
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Gospel text (Lk 9:18-22): Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, crucified and risen to save us

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, as in Jesus’ time, "people" have different views regarding Jesus Christ. In fact, there are two ways of “seeing” and "knowing" Jesus: one —that of the crowd—, more superficial, approaching Him from the outside; the other —that of the disciples— more penetrating and authentic. With the double question: "Who do the people say that I am?", and "but who do you say that I am?" Jesus invites us to be aware of this difference in perspective.

One has to go in depth, to recognize the singularity of the person of Jesus of Nazareth, His newness. In fact, the titles attributed to Him by St. Peter —"You are the Christ", "the Christ of God", "the Son of the living God"— can be understood only authentically in the light of the mystery of His death and resurrection. The reverse is also true: the event of the Cross reveals its full sense only if "this man", who suffered and who died on the Cross, was "truly the Son of God".

—O Jesus, I confess that You are the Son of God, that You have died to save me and You have risen to take me with You.