In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus asking his Disciples, “Who do people say I am?” The Disciples repeat the speculations of the crowds, but Jesus asks “But who do you say I am?” Peter answers for all of them, “You are the Messiah, the Anointed one of God.”
The Disciples must have been bursting to tell everyone, “Our Master is the Messiah!”. But Jesus says they are to tell no-one. Only after he has been publicly disgraced, tried, and executed like a common criminal-then they can boast of their association with Jesus, as the Mess Victory for Jesus will come through love, loyalty, truth, integrity and non-violence. But it is not enough to recognise Jesus as Messiah, or to be filled with wonder and compassion at his suffering and death. We are called to be followers, and disciples of Jesus. Jesus calls us to follow him, and to take up his cross every day, this does not mean we go out of our way, looking for pain and trouble. It means accepting what comes into our lives, and seeing God’s love in every experience even the most painful.