Thoughts for the Day

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today, I want to look at a story by the catholic priest Anthony de Mello (from his book 'The Song of the bird):

'The mystic was back from the desert.
"Tell us," they said, "what God is like."
But how could he tell them
what he had experienced in his heart?
Can God be put into words?

He finally gave them a formula - so
inaccurate, so inadequate - in the hope
that some of them might be tempted
to experience it for themselves.

They seized upon the formula.
They made it a sacred text.
They imposed it on others as a holy belief.
They went to great pains to spread it in foreign lands.
Some even gave their lives for it.

The mystic was sad. It might have
been better if he had said nothing.'

Peter recognised that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. To be a Christian is to recognise Jesus as the one who came to save us. But how often have we limited Him to a formula? It's hard to love a formula!

Lord Jesus Christ,
Peter recognised You as God's Son,
sent to earth to rescue His people;
he saw Your love and compassion for the people;
Your determination to achieve justice;
and Your desire to teach them about Your Father.
May we look beyond the words of scripture
to reach out to You as our Lord,
our Shepherd and our Saviour.
Amen.