Who Am I?

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, June 29th, 2025:
The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

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Matthew
16.13-19

​When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Have you ever played the game “Who Am I”? One player thinks of a person, and the remaining players ask a series of yes/no questions until they narrow down possible answers to the correct one or run out of questions trying. This game is not unlike what happens in real life when we try to discover who someone really is. I dare say, over 2000 years ago and with every generation that has followed, people have tried to discover who Jesus really is.

Did Jesus really live? Yes! There is a plethora of historical evidence that Jesus did indeed walk the earth.

Was He a teacher? Yes! The four Gospels recount numerous teachings, including the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:17-26), where Jesus spoke on blessedness, the law, anger, lust, divorce, vows, revenge, loving one’s enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, money, anxiety, judging others, and the way to heaven. The reaction? When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at His teaching for He taught with authority and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:28-29).

Did He perform miracles, signs and wonders? Yes! Jesus made the blind to see (John 9), the deaf to hear (Mark 7), the lame to leap (John 5), the demons to be cast out (Mark 5). Two fish and five loaves of bread He made to feed more than 5000 people (Matt 14), and He walked upon the water (Matthew 14).

Did He love? Yes! His life in both word and deed epitomized true, selfless, deep, and abiding love.

Is there more to Jesus than being a loving man, remarkable teacher, and miracle worker?
Did Jesus claim to be more than a man? Yes! In John 10:30, Jesus said, “The Father and I are one.” And, in John 10:33, the Jews told Him, “We are not stoning you for any good work … but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” 

As C.S. Lewis so aptly put it in his book Mere Christianity, Jesus’ claims don’t allow us the option of saying he was merely a good man or a great moral teacher. Rather we must choose whether he is a liar, a lunatic or Lord!

Did Jesus die, rise from the dead and later ascend into heaven? Yes! The Gospels were written by eyewitnesses (Matthew and John) and by people (Mark and Luke) who interviewed those who were present at these events. Jesus was indeed crucified and died. Three days later He rose again and, forty days following He ascended into heaven.

In the Gospel for Sunday, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” We hear around us many differing opinions, as the disciples did. Yet, the most important question is the one that followed: “What about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” This question, first posed to the disciples, is posed to each one of us even now. While we will be called to make many determinations in this lifetime, none is of greater significance than this one. Its implications affect us both now and into eternity.

When asked this question may we, like Peter, cry out, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” – and may we, like Peter upon acknowledging Jesus’ true identity, be given a revelation as to our own.

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​Lisa Wing

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