Who do you say I am?

   

In the gospel for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus asked the apostles, "Who do people say I am?" and then, "Who do you say I am?" Was Jesus really curious to know what people thought of him? Maybe. We all wonder what others think of us, but usually don't have the courage to ask. Perhaps Jesus was testing the waters to see whether he was really being understood by those around him. When Peter says, "You are the Christ of God," he knows that Peter has been profoundly affected by their relationship, even though he doesn't fully understand what he is saying yet. Peter's  faith and love have yet to be tested by Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection, and his own denial.

It might be a good idea to ask our friends who they think we are. If we are honest with ourselves, we know we are flawed yet worthy of love and acceptance. But sometimes we need to hear others tell us who we for them, what our assets, as well as our liabilities, are. Some of us may not readily acknowledge our good points, for fear of seeming proud. Some of us may not see our flaws that we try unsuccessfully to hide. The answer can give us a sense of worth as well as an assessment of our where we need to improve. People who have a healthy self-esteem are not afraid to hear of their imperfections. It is a great gift to know that in spite of our shortcomings, others love us anyway.

Of course, Jesus knew who he was without anyone telling him. But we need to know who he is for our sake, in order to realize how blessed we are to have a relationship with someone who accepts and loves us unconditionally.