Today’s gospel is the turning point in the ministry of Jesus. We have been following him all the way from the south, all the way from his own baptism, all the way up through Samaria, through Galilee, and now he’s at the top, the very top of Palestine.
This is the place where Jesus suddenly stops and he says to his disciples — after they had journeyed and been in many places, large crowds following them — now they were all alone and he says to them, “Who do people say that I am?” And, of course, “Some say that you’re John the Baptist.” John the Baptist who was already dead having been beheaded by King Herod. “Some say that he has risen from the dead and you are John the Baptist. Others say you’re Jeremiah or some great prophet from the past.” And then Jesus says to them, “Who do you say that I am?”
And, of course, this is the main point, isn’t it? He’s saying, “Who do you say that I am?”
You and me. Not two centuries ago. Not even a hundred years ago. Not all the theologians and everybody else that we admire: St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas and all these wonderful people. It doesn’t matter what they said of Jesus. Because Jesus, today, here and now, says the same thing to us, “But who do you say that I am?”
We have to remember and think that it is what Jesus is saying is important to all of us. Because if we stand up, and say to our hearts when he whispers, “And who do you say that I am?” and we say, as Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” if we say that, then we make ourselves his disciples.
And in making us disciples, he teaches us that there are only two realities left in our lives, and the first reality is faith. It is an act of faith, the giving of ourselves to him, totally and completely. And the second thing, of course, is an act of love. And this is what Jesus is finally establishing: a community of men and women, very ordinary, like Peter, full of weaknesses, but also open to share with God His own life and to become one with His Son, Jesus.
God loves us and He serves us. And He asks us to join with Him in loving and in serving each other.
Perhaps this year, after all that we have been through, we can take some time to respond on Jesus being the Christ, Our Redeemer, Our Hope, and to continue to place our hope in Him.
MASS SCHEDULE Effective Tuesday, September 1st, we will resume our regular Mass schedule. Masses at Saint John Capistran will be celebrated Monday thru Friday at 8:30 a.m., Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Mass will be celebrated at Saint Thomas More Monday thru Saturday at 11:30 a.m., Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
No one is currently obligated to attend Mass. If you feel ill, are older than 64 or have health issues, you should stay at home, due to your higher risk from COVID-19. If you need pastoral care, contact the parish office.
We will continue to follow the CDC guidelines and the guidelines set up by the diocese:
the wearing of facemasks
the use of hand sanitizer which is available at the entrances of church
signing in for mass (either pre-registration online, or giving your name and phone number in person when you arrive to church) This is done is someone is later found to have COVID-19 exposure
social distancing of 6 feet between parishioners (unless you are members of the same family)
The Precious Blood will not be distributed to the Faithful
Everyone is strongly encouraged to receive Communion in the hand.
ZOOM Q&A This Tuesday, August 25th at 7:00 p.m., I will host a ZOOM Q&A to answer any questions concerning the finance of Saint Thomas More Parish. The Q&A is a follow-up to the letter that was sent to all Saint Thomas More families and the You Tube videos that were posted last week. If you don’t feel comfortable asking your questions online, you may submit them to me before the meeting begins, at my email address: [email protected]. The link for the ZOOM meeting is: https://zoom.us/j/94603998698?pwd=b0VsTlowN2hJMW93RC9MOU5RdXRwZz09
Meeting ID: 946 0399 8698 Passcode: AME6Da This link is also available on our webpage.