Personal Conviction
Thursday 18th week ordinary time
The heart-to-heart encounter between Jesus and the disciples at Caesarea Philipi centered on the open question that Jesus posed to the disciples: “But who do you say I am?” This question, highlighted at the middle of the narration of the Synoptic Gospel, brings us the key motif of authentic discipleship: personal conviction.
The twelve, especially Peter, will not be learners and followers forever. They will be sent; they will be apostles. It is important then that they have personal conviction about Jesus: his person and his true mission. [In this sense we can understand why Jesus rebuked Peter: “Get behind me satan!” Peter had understood the mission of Jesus wrongly (namely: politically) and this “Rock” could be a stumbling block for Jesus’ true mission].
What would spell success in the evangelizing efforts of the twelve is “fire” that burns from personal conviction. True enough, when finally these twelve started out their task of spreading the Good News that is Jesus, they made the believing community attain a remarkable growth – from Twelve Galileans to half a million Christian throughout the Roman Empire by the end of the first century. Considering the poor communication and tiring travel at that time, this was an explosive growth attained in around 30 to 40 years.
Do we have this personal conviction alive and aflame? Our vision of Jesus in the Gospels should become an inner inspiration, "a fire within" that will create a special response, an awareness of mission, and a strong desire to spread our belief in Jesus' vision and mission.
The heart-to-heart encounter between Jesus and the disciples at Caesarea Philipi centered on the open question that Jesus posed to the disciples: “But who do you say I am?” This question, highlighted at the middle of the narration of the Synoptic Gospel, brings us the key motif of authentic discipleship: personal conviction.
The twelve, especially Peter, will not be learners and followers forever. They will be sent; they will be apostles. It is important then that they have personal conviction about Jesus: his person and his true mission. [In this sense we can understand why Jesus rebuked Peter: “Get behind me satan!” Peter had understood the mission of Jesus wrongly (namely: politically) and this “Rock” could be a stumbling block for Jesus’ true mission].
What would spell success in the evangelizing efforts of the twelve is “fire” that burns from personal conviction. True enough, when finally these twelve started out their task of spreading the Good News that is Jesus, they made the believing community attain a remarkable growth – from Twelve Galileans to half a million Christian throughout the Roman Empire by the end of the first century. Considering the poor communication and tiring travel at that time, this was an explosive growth attained in around 30 to 40 years.
Do we have this personal conviction alive and aflame? Our vision of Jesus in the Gospels should become an inner inspiration, "a fire within" that will create a special response, an awareness of mission, and a strong desire to spread our belief in Jesus' vision and mission.
