Gospel LK 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Reflection:
Over two thousand years have passed, and for each of us the question remains the same, “But who do you say that I am?”
Like Peter, I have no difficulty answering you are “The Christ of God.”
But truthfully, in the face of the atrocities of human against human throughout the world, there are times when I find myself asking, “Where are you, Lord?”
With beheadings, rampant prejudice, thousands of refugees trudging throughout Europe, and families starving in the face of plenty, my mind screams, “Where are you, Lord?”
But, eventually, I come to my senses and remember that when He created us, God gave us the gift of free will. Great gifts often have a great purpose and come at a great price.
The suffering in the world will only cease when as God’s children, we all bow in humility to the will and direction of our loving Father and say, as Jesus did, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.”
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” Peter 4:19