Who Do You Say That I Am?
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21st Sunday of Ordinary Time
Who Do You Say That I Am?
“But who do you say that I am” (Matthew 16:15). Jesus poses this question to his disciples. And Peter enthusiastically exclaims: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Indeed, Peter answers correctly as he is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. In faith, that, too, is our response. I’ll always remember what a former spiritual director said to me when I was a seminarian studying for the priesthood at Mundelein Seminary. While in the Gospel Jesus poses the question – and of course it is important for us to take ownership as a follower of Christ and be able to profess faith in him – it is also equally beneficial to pose Jesus’s own question back to him, he explained. In other words, that spiritual director invited me to ask Jesus in the silent prayer of my heart: Lord, who do you say that I am to you? That is a powerful question, and one worth bringing to your personal prayer. Lord, who am I to you? As you rest in the presence of God this week, may the Holy Spirit enlighten “the eyes of your heart that you may know what is the hope that belongs to your call” (Ephesians 1:18). May the answer you hear from the Lord affirm you deeply – to know that you belong here; you belong to God; you belong to the Light – you are a beloved child of God, beautifully and wonderfully made, in His image and likeness.
Seminarians at Mundelein Seminary focus on both aspects of that question. As they undergo formation in the spiritual, human, pastoral and intellectual dimensions, they must continue to respond to Jesus’s question once posed to the disciples. Who do you say that I am? The first office or duty of the ministerial priest is to preach the Gospel to all people. And so like Peter, they must have the right answer: you Lord Jesus are the Christ, the Son of the living God! In addition, the seminarian must be grounded and centered in his identity or relationship with the Lord. Therefore, he also must ask Jesus: who am I to you, Lord? Here at St. Francis de Sales, we will be blessed to accompany 3 seminarians this Fall, helping to form them as they prepare to become priests. We are also going to be so fortunate to learn from them, too, as they bring with them a heart for ministry and service and a willingness to share their spiritual gifts with our community. Last weekend, I announced the names of the 3 seminarians assigned to us: William Jordan, from SS. Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette, Archdiocese of Chicago, entering into Discipleship I (first year of Philosophy); Benjamin Wemhoff, from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Diocese of Wichita, entering into Configuration I (First Theology); Alex Klein, from St. Jude Parish, Diocese of Wichita, entering in Configuration II (Second Theology). Please join me in praying for our seminarians, and together, may we pause to ponder and reflect on that deeply reciprocal question: who do you say that I am?
Thank You!
Principal Mary Keller and I are pleased to announce the installation of brand new concrete steps adjacent to the school’s main entrance as well as new mulch for the school’s playground. We are confident that these improvement projects will promote safety and enjoyment for our students. I want to take this opportunity to thank Dcn. John Sfire and Fidelity Construction for their excellent work and a job well done with both of these projects!
Wishing you God’s peace and everything good, I remain –
Yours in Christ,