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 21^st Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Who Is Jesus to You Personally?

Readings: Is. 22:19-23; Rm. 11:33-36; Mt. 16:13-20

The Gospel of this Sunday poses this decisive question to every disciple of Jesus: “And you—who do you say the Son of Man is?” In essence, Jesus asks each of us: Who am I to you personally? Although Jesus addressed this question to the disciples in the district of Caesarea Philippi, the Church invites every Christian today to search his or her heart and give a personal answer.

Jesus’ choice of Caesarea Philippi—a region near Mount Hermon, at the boundary of the Gentile world, where the temple of Caesar stood—to pose this question to His disciples was deliberate and significant. In earlier times, this place was known for the worship of many pagan gods, including Baal and Pan. Standing in a location filled with symbols of worldly power and false deities, Jesus asked His disciples who the people said He was, and more importantly, who He was to them. It was as though He said to them, “You have heard what others say about me. You have seen my works and listened to my teachings. You see the gods of the pagan world around you. Now, who am I to you? You must make a choice.”

This question is equally urgent in our own time, especially with the many perceptions people have about Jesus and the varied sentiments people hold about religion. Even within our churches, people relate to Jesus in different ways. To some, Jesus is only a miracle worker; hence, they seek Him only when they need a miracle, and once they receive it, they move on. To others, He is simply a healer, and they remember Him only when sickness strikes. Some see Him as a provider of material goods, and once they are comfortable, Jesus becomes unnecessary. Others approach Him as a warrior, who is invoked only to fight battles or destroy enemies; when the battles cease, He is forgotten. While these perceptions touch on real attributes of Jesus, the Church calls us to a deeper and more mature acknowledgement of who He truly is.

The question “Who is Jesus?” can be answered satisfactorily only when someone has a personal relationship with Him—an encounter that transforms the heart. Peter’s confession—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”—and Jesus’ response to him show that true knowledge of Jesus comes from personal experience and divine revelation. A genuine relationship with Jesus reveals that He is not only a healer, provider, warrior, or miracle worker but also our Lord and Saviour, who desires to save our souls from eternal loss.

A life of prayer, adoration, study of the Word of God, and frequent reception of the Eucharist draws us into this personal relationship. The Church, therefore, urges us to take our spiritual lives seriously if we truly desire to know Jesus as He is.

In the second reading, St Paul acknowledges the greatness of God after his own profound encounter with Christ. Likewise, the psalmist proclaims who God is with deep conviction. These testimonies remind us that recognizing Jesus as Lord and Saviour shapes our entire lifestyle. It influences our choices and guides our actions so that our words and deeds do not contradict each other.

Peter’s acknowledgement of Jesus shaped his life so deeply that he carried out the mission entrusted to him—shepherding the Church—with fidelity to Christ’s will. This is a lesson for all who profess that Jesus is Lord: our proclamation must influence our decisions, actions, and public service. Whoever acknowledges Jesus as Lord cannot live in a way that contradicts His will.

The first reading presents a warning through the story of Shebna, a treasurer in the court of King Hezekiah. Instead of serving according to God’s will, pride and ambition led him to build a magnificent tomb for himself; he was more concerned about his body after death than about his soul. We see a similar attitude today, as many people spend large sums of money to secure beautiful burial places for their bodies and those of their family members, yet pay far less attention to the eternal destination of their souls.

Because of Shebna’s actions, he fell out of God’s favour and lost his position to Eliakim. His downfall teaches that public office is a sacred responsibility. Every opportunity to serve is an invitation to let our encounter with Christ shape our choices and actions. Public office must advance the values of God’s kingdom, not personal ambition or arrogance.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima