Who do you say that I am?

Have you ever faced a big exam in school and found yourself caught in an ever-increasing cycle of worry and anxiety? “If I fail this, I will fail the course. If I fail the course, I will not graduate. If I do not graduate, then I will not get a good job…” and so on. Looking back now, you probably realize that one isolated event did not determine your entire future. That dreaded exam was one in a series of stepping stones along the path.

In The Chair of Saint Peter, we can look at this moment in Peter’s life as a stepping stone too. We celebrate this feast in part because of Peter gave the right answer to Jesus’ question. He recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and that became the foundation of both his own faith and his role as leader of the Church. But this was just one step in Peter’s growth into his calling. He had other opportunities to answer this question in words and in actions – and he did not always get it right. In fact, immediately after today’s story, he rebuked Jesus for saying he would go to Jerusalem to suffer. And just after the Last Supper, he denied three times that he even knew Jesus.

these mistakes were also steps on Peter’s journey to becoming the leader we honor. And that is the point, Jesus did not ask this question merely to get a correct answer. He knew better than to think that Peter had everything down pat. He understood that his faith would grow over time, through “right” and “wrong” answers, just as our faith does.

Throughout our lives, we will be asked who we say Jesus is: as we struggle through sickness or a job loss, as we welcome a new grandchild, or as we pray during Eucharistic adoration. Each situation can help build our foundation, making us more confident. The more we tell Jesus we trust him, bu words and by deeds, the surer our steps will become. And if we fall, he will help us back up and smile as we reaffirm our faith.

God wants each of us to keep moving forward. So take a step today, and see where it leads you.

-word among us