What we have learned in Catechism is not enough to answer the question "Who is Jesus for us?”. It’s not the study of things that’s needed, but a life of discipleship".

Vatican City ( AsiaNews) - "Jesus did not say 'Know me' to Peter and his apostles, he said 'Follow me!". You get to know Jesus by following him, more than studying him. This was Pope Francis message during his homily at Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta, recalling the question "who am I to you", asked by Jesus himself to the apostles.

The Pope, Vatican Radio reports, was inspired by the figure of Peter.  The Gospel of the day portrays the Apostle in the guise of "courageous" witness - who responds to Jesus' question: "Who am I for you?" with "you are the Christ" - and immediately after that of opponent, when he reproaches Jesus for announcing that he will suffer and die, and then rise again . "Many times Jesus turns to us and asks us: 'But who am I for you? ' obtaining the same response as Peter, what have we learned in the catechism". But that is not enough. "It seems to answer that question that we all feel in our hearts - 'Who is Jesus for us?' - what we have learned, studied in the catechism is not enough.  It is important to study it and know it, but it is not enough. In order to get to know Jesus we must make the same journey as Peter: after this humiliation, Peter moved on with Jesus, saw the miracles which Jesus carried out, he saw his power, then he paid his taxes, as Jesus told him to, he caught a fish, removed a coin, he saw many miracles like that. But, at a certain point, Peter denied Jesus, he betrayed Jesus, and learned that most difficult science - rather than science, wisdom - of tears, of weeping".

Peter asks Jesus for forgiveness and yet, after the Resurrection, he is interrogated three times on the beach in Tiberias, and probably in reaffirming his total love for his Master he weeps with shame in recalling his three denials. "This first question - 'Who am I to you, for you?' - Peter, only understands after along the way, after a long journey, a journey of grace and sin, a journey of discipleship. Jesus did not say 'Get to know me ! to Peter and his apostles, he said, 'Follow me'. And this following Jesus allows us to get to know Jesus. Following Jesus with our virtues, even with our sins, but always following Jesus.  It's not the study of things that's needed, but a life of discipleship".

It takes "a daily encounter with the Lord, every day, with our victories and our weaknesses". But it is also "a path that we can not travel alone". We need the intervention of the Holy Spirit. "Knowing Jesus is a gift of the Father, He lets us get to know Jesus; it is a work of the Holy Spirit, who is a great worker. He's not a trade unionist, he is a hard worker and works in us, always. He carries out this work of explaining the mystery of Jesus and giving us that sense of Christ. Let's look at Jesus, Peter, the Apostles, and we feel this question in our hearts: ' who am I to you? ' . And as disciples ask the Father to give us the knowledge of Christ in the Holy Spirit, to explain this mystery to us".

 

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