Just a couple weeks ago, the Gospel reading for the day was from Mark 8:27-30. Jesus and His disciples are travelling, and Jesus asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” and they told him, “Well, some say you’re John the Baptist, and some say you’re Elijah or some prophet…” And then He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Imagine yourself among the prophets, being confronted with a question like that. Who do you say that He is?

If, as did Peter, we would impulsively cry out, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” then there must be a second question we must demand of ourselves: And what difference does this belief have in my life?”

There is a belief that is an intellectual assent to something. I believe a great many things, but that belief doesn’t change how I relate to those things,  don’t effect how I live, how I treat others, how I go about my daily business.

But if Jesus is Who He claimed to be – one with the Father, the Bread of Heaven, the Bread of Life, the Door… – if He is Who John the Baptist identified Him to be, “The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)  –

If He is Who Peter said he is … Then our belief in Him has to be more than a mere intellectual assent, hasn’t it? It must be a belief that requires of us our whole selves – our will, our egos, our ambitions…

Who do you say that He is?
And what difference does it make in your life?

Yes?