Recognizing Christ.
In the previous chapters that we read in the past few Sundays, Jesus did not answer to this question with a definition of himself, but with actions that manifest what He is by what He does:
- He does make the lame walk. He is the One who gives man the ability to walk through life;
- He does make the deaf hear and the mute speak. He is the one who has the words of life that explain life;
- He does raise the dead. He is the Giver of life;
- He does make the blind see. He is the Light that gives the light and carries us to light;
- He does calm the waters of the sea. He is Lord of nature;
- He does give the bread in the desert. He is the One who nourishes body and soul.
Seeing his “doing, the conclusion that we should reach should be » He is the Messiah (in Greek: the Christ).» Unfortunately, the people of that time and many even today did not grasp the novelty and greatness of Jesus. To the question «Who do you say that I am» the answer of the majority is that this «doer» is nothing more than a prophet like those who had preceded him. Then, Jesus asks the question to his disciples «And who do you say that I am?” Peter, also on behalf of the others, responds promptly «You are the Christ!” Peter recognizes clearly that Jesus is the Messiah. He gives an answer that is accurate. There is no other answer. Christ, dead and risen, is the one in whom it is accomplished the impossible, the unthinkable, the only fact that can change the course of human history. Without him a man or a woman are «human being destined to death» (Martin Heidegger) while, if he or she is «tied» to the Cross, he or she is “untied» from death.
Moreover, it must be remembered that the reply of St. Peter implies a further recognition: that of crucified love. The logic of the cross “is not the one of pain and death, ma the one of love and gift of self that carries life”. (Pope Francis)
It is the way of the Cross that completes the speech, making it clear. When the Chief of the Apostles tells him «You are the Christ,» Jesus feels the need to point out that he is the Son of God who must suffer many things. Therefore, to the question that today Jesus puts to us «Who do you say that I am?” the complete answer is «You are the Christ, the Love crucified and risen.» In fact, St. Paul writes «If Christ had not risen, our faith would be in vain». He knew that the cross is not an obstacle to salvation, but it is the condition. «The Cross is not a pole of the Romans, but the wood on which God wrote the Gospel» (Alda Merini, 1931-2009, poetess). From Christ on the Cross the world receives a new dimension, that of Jesus and of all those who, following Him, give their lives for the others.
The Messiah invites us to follow him always up to Calvary because, by walking behind his Cross, we model our lives on the one of ‘»Lamb that teaches us the strength, of the Humiliated that gives lesson in dignity, of the Condemned that enhances justice, of the Dying that confirms life, and of the Crucified that prepares glory «(Father Primo Mazzolari, 1809-1959, priest and writer).
Following Christ and believing in Charity, we keep our arms and a heart open like the Crucifix. Of course, to do this we have to recognize, like St Peter, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior. Like St. Peter we have to accept the Cross as the “key» with which the Lord has opened the Heaven and closed hell for all those who receive him. The Redeemer took this heavy «Key» on his shoulders, felt its full weight and responsibility while its nails pierced his flesh and bound him to it. Christ has given the «key» of the Kingdom to St. Peter, calling him to be crucified with Him and to carry with him the sweet and light yoke on his shoulders so to learn the humility and the meekness with which “to untie» humanity from the bondage of the world, the flesh, and the devil and » to tie» them to Christ in an eternal covenant that will make them forever children of the Heavenly Father. In a poetic homily attributed to St. Ephrem the Syrian, the saint imagines that the good thief after his death comes to the door of paradise. On his shoulders he bear his cross. A cherubim, the one with a sword flickering like a flame (Gen 3:24) that blocks the access to Heaven of criminals who are not worthy of eternal joy, hastens. St Ephrem describes a heated argument between the cherubim and the good thief. It ends when the good thief shows the key to the gate of heaven. What is, then, the key to paradise? The cross, his cross transfigured by the life-giving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cross opens the door of life to all of us who believe in Jesus Christ like the good thief. «Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.» The life of Christ triumphs in all repentant sinners, even those of the last minute like the good thief.
We, the sinner of today, are called to understand that it is not only a matter of recognizing with our faith Christ as the sent by the Father, but to be his witnesses with a Christian life, which is the ability of loving up to the supreme sacrifice.
True love, because crucified love.
Of course, like St Peter, we too try to remove Christ from the Way of the Cross. It is the temptation that comes from the devil. It is an attempt to divert us from the path outlined by God (the Way of the Cross) to replace it with a path drawn up by the wisdom of men, what is often referred to as the common sense.
Christ has unmasked and overcome this temptation, and his life was a constant yes to God and a no to the tempter. Jesus defeated the devil. But the devil tries to get from the disciple what he failed to obtain from the Master: to separate the Messiah from the Crucified and the faith in Jesus the King from his throne that is the Cross.
After stating his identity and having unmasked the presence of temptation, Jesus turns to his disciples and to the people and very clearly offers them his way. There are no two ways, one for Jesus and one for the disciples, but only one «Who wants to come after me must deny himself and take up his cross.»
The cross is symbol and icon of virginal love. It is the more authentic synthesis of the received and donated love, of crucified love. In fact, nothing like the cross gives the certainty of being loved from ever, forever, totally and unconditionally. The true face of God is the one of the Crucified (Jurgen Moltaman). If we present Christ to the world with its true face, people can feel him like a convincing answer and are able to follow him and his message, even if it is demanding and marked by the cross.
It is true that the cross is «a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles» (1 Cor 1.18 to 24) and that it is difficult for each of us to understand and accept it. But if we look, for instance, at the example of the consecrated virgins in the world we are helped to understand, accept and live the cross.
Love lived virginally is a crucified love not because it is a mortified love, but because it is a «sacrificial» love, namely, made sacred by the total gift of oneself to God. Virgin love is the love of Christ, who «practiced» a crucified love. For love, Jesus experienced progressively emptying himself up to the cross. If we want to love as Christians, we need to know it and do like Him. This way of love puts the other before me and the Other (God) above me. The cross is the greatest sign of the greatest love, and virginity is the crucifixion of oneself to give oneself to God, to be nailed to his love embracing Christ on the Cross.
The consecrated virgins are a significant and high example that God’s love is totalitarian. You must love the Lord «with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength» (Mk 12, 30).
These women show that a body and a heart chastely offered do not take man away from God but make the human being closer to God more than the angels (cf. Eph 1:14) and that Christian life is a progressive configuration to the crucified and risen Christ. In fact, as Christ’s love for us led Him to the cross, our love for Him ingrains in us his wounds of love. Love purifies us and configures us in transfiguring us. It should be noted that compliance with the painful crucified Christ has the ultimate goal to bring the Christian to the joyful compliance with the risen Christ.
Virginity is not simply a waiver, but it is the manifestation of fierce love for God and for the neighbor. It is a love that transforms the lover into the Beloved. Virginity lived as crucifixion is bearing witness that Love, with the gift of self, has won. Virginity lived as resurrection is testifying that the Bridegroom is really present in everyday life and his condescending presence gives full and complete joy (see Jn 3:29). Virginity is freedom; it is a sign of a perfect love that has no impatience, envy, or jealousy and that, radiating joy, ensures peace.
These women give testimony that it is impossible not to try to be like Him and to bring into the world the joy of his presence.
