Messiah of God – Reflection on Luke 9:18-22
Various Bibles use rebuke, sternly ordered, or sharp criticism from Jesus for the disciples to be silent about His future. Since we know what it is, we can reflect on what Jesus will reveal and Peter’s answer to the question, “Who am I.” It has taken me many years to see that the focus of Jesus, the Messiah of God, is not on His miracles. Instead, Jesus, for me, is the mystery of unconditional love. When we give back the majority of Jesus’s love that we receive to those with various needs, we discover it includes suffering. Do you silently share your suffering on the Cross with those who will know what it means? These incremental moments increase discerning if someone may need to hear you say Christ is Lord and love.
The Exhortation to the Apostles by James Tissot (full resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary time Reflections
Luke 9:18-22 – Scripture*
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
18 Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 9:18-22 Reflection – Christ is Lord.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate your expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions. Amen.
Attributions
* This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the passage of Matthew 9.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Messiah of God
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.