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Fr. Andy had another great homily today that I’m just going to present here in this blog.
There are two Greek words for time. The first is normal time, like on a clock; the second is more accurately “appointed time,” kairos. This is translated for us in the first reading, but each time it says “time” it would be more accurate to say “appointed time.” There is an appointed time to be born, and an appointed time to die etc.”
Today’s Gospel recounts the appointed time for the apostles to learn the truth about who God is. Jesus asks, “Who do the crowds say that I am? … But who do you say that I am?” Peter responds, “The Christ of God.” In another Gospel account of this exchange, Jesus says to Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Yes, this was the appointed time for the apostles to know.
But Jesus tells them not to tell anyone. This is a strange habit that Jesus seems to be in. He is constantly telling those He heals not to tell anyone. Whenever someone begins to have an inkling about who He is, He tells them not to tell anyone. Why is that? Well, the Jews had a very specific idea at that time about what the Messiah was going to do. He was meant to be this military leader who would overthrow Israel’s oppressors and lead all of Israel once again into a marvelous earthly kingdom. But we know that is not what Jesus intended. Jesus wanted to keep secret His identity for a time so that His mission could proceed, His call to repentance and belief.
He goes on to explain the reality of His saving presence. “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed on the third day be raised.”
What a shock would this have been for the apostles. So far was this reality from their expectations that I bet they could barely even react. They must have been so confused. But truly, Jesus suffered, was rejected, was killed, and was raised. And now we’re invited to share in His own blessed life. That means that we have suffering, rejection, and death in our future, but it also means we can expect the Resurrection. That’s not something we’ll be shocked to discover. So live with hope, my friends.
-Amanda Benner, Director of Evangelization