The Litmus Test

~~~ Saints Peter and Paul ~~~

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~

~~~ 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 ~~~ Matthew 16:13-19

“But who do you say that I am?”

I never get tired of this question

 coming in our cycle of daily readings.

It is a question that we can answer every year

 because we are not the same person today 

as we were last year.

This question was first posed to Peter by Jesus.

Peter, walked with Jesus...

witnessed his miracles first hand...

Peter ultimately is the one who denies Jesus.

Peter is frail, yet it is Peter who recognizes

 who Jesus truly was in real time.

Somehow Jesus saw something deep within the soul of Peter...

Jesus saw a goodness and honesty in Peter's character.

Jesus recognizes that the only way Peter

could have known who he was 

had been revealed to him by God the Father.

God prepared Peter to be named the head of the church.

...you are Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my Church,

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. 

Peter answered the question Jesus asked.

Jesus may not be questioning you,

but you too must answer this same question.

If you do not answer the question you will never 

be sure you are convicted in your faith.

Being able to verbalize to yourself 

and to others 

who Jesus is to you

 is the litmus test of being a Christian....

and for me being a Catholic.

Jesus and Paul never actually met face to face.

Paul eventually came to know

 without a doubt who Jesus truly was.

God the Father

touched the heart of Paul and after that

 he never turned back to his former ways.

Conversion is real.

Knowing who Jesus is for you is real.

Make every day the day

 you answer who Jesus is for you.

Confirm it in your heart.

It is real.

~~~Peace~~~