Today’s Gospel sets before us the central question of Mark’s Gospel, the whole New Testament, and quite frankly the central question for our lives— Who do you say that I am?  

When pressed by Jesus, Peter responded “You are the Christ”.  It was a good answer.   The disciples had witnessed numerous healings and miracles in their travels with Him so far.  The parables Jesus had told described the Kingdom of God and the importance of receiving God’s Word.  They had experienced the power and authority of Jesus’ teaching.  More deeply and significantly, it was also a good answer because, inspired by God, it came from Peter’s heart, the place where truth is known. 
           
However, when Jesus went on to clarify for them what it really means to call Him the Christ, Peter’s passion took an about-face at the whole idea.  Suddenly he wasn’t sure he was all-in for the journey.  Jesus’ explanation of the rejection, suffering and death that He would endure was not something the disciples wanted to hear, much participate in.  How could Peter even grasp  the paradox that whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.  Peter did lose his life—even when he continued to walk on the earth.  Life and grace gave Peter and the other apostles time to offer a great response; a full-throated living proclamation of who Jesus is. 

Who do you say that Jesus is?  Is your lived response predominantly luke-warm, pretty good, or strikingly great?  When things are going well in our lives, we are better able sometimes to be enthusiastic, faithful disciples of Christ; to see the hand of God in our blessings.   “Oh yes, you are the Christ,” we feel.  At other times however, when we are facing hardships we may struggle, “Where are you Jesus?”  Or, “You are not a friend to me Jesus.” Or sadly, “I don’t know who you are Jesus.”  You may be like Peter and want to “rebuke” Jesus.  We too prefer to hear that discipleship doesn’t include rejection, suffering, and total self-giving.  Sometimes it feels like God is asking too much, certainly more than we want to give.  Hopefully also however you enjoy some graced-filled moments when your response is great, when you experience what truly being alive is like.
           
We may or may not always be able to give the great answer about Jesus.  Searching our heart, we may at times have no answer at all. In the great full mystery of who Jesus, Son of the Living God is, searching is a good place to be, a good answer to give, because when you are searching you can draw on all that you have seen, all that you have experienced, and like Peter, arrive at a new, deeper knowing.  And then, give a great answer to the most important question you will ever be asked.