Many in Israel recognized Jesus as a mighty man of God, even comparing him with the greatest of the prophets. Peter, always quick to respond whenever Jesus spoke, professed that Jesus was truly the “Christ of God”—”the Son of the living God.” No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter, but only God. Through the “eyes of faith” Peter discovered who Jesus truly was. Peter recognized that Jesus was much more than a great teacher, prophet, and miracle worker. Peter was the first apostle to publicly declare that Jesus was the Anointed One, consecrated by the Father and sent into the world to redeem a fallen human race enslaved to sin and cut off from eternal life with God. The word “Christ” in Greek is a translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah”—both words mean “the Anointed One.”

Jesus told his disciples that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die in order that God’s work of redemption might be accomplished. God’s way of thinking is always different from ours. Jesus is telling us that we also have to go through the sufferings of our lives in order to reach our goal in heaven. It was through humiliation, suffering, and death on the cross that Jesus broke the powers of sin and death and won for us eternal life and freedom from the slavery of sin.

If we want to share in the victory of the Lord Jesus, then we must also take up our crosses and follow where he leads us. We should always offer our daily crosses into the hands of the Lord and pray to him to give us the courage to carry them with love towards him so that one day we will be reaching that Victory and enjoying it with him in heaven as the Holy Spirit gives each of us the gifts and strength we need to live as the true sons and daughters of God.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, I believe and I profess that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Take my life, my will, and all that I have, that I may be wholly yours now and forever. Help me to carry my daily crosses and follow your footsteps without any complaint and do it with great joy and love to you. Amen.

With love and Prayers,

Fr. Charley