“‘Who then is this about whom I hear such things?'” And he kept trying to see him” (Lk 9:9).

Herod Antipas, ruler over Galilee and Perea, heard stories about Jesus. The range of his thoughts that Luke expressed are confusion to curiosity. Herod may have started to feel concern over the possibility of a growing revolt, some guilt for his execution of John the Baptist, or just curiosity to see what this man was all about and if he could accomplish even half of the things Herod had heard about him. The one question that did not seem to cross Herod’s mind was if he had any interest in changing his life and becoming a follower of Jesus.

Herod is not the only one in Luke’s Gospel who asks questions about who this man Jesus was. Nor did the asking of those questions die with Jesus on the cross. They continued after his resurrection and ascension, they continued into the first centuries of the Church leading to the calling of the first ecumenical councils which dealt directly with who Jesus was, and they continued in each following century and continue today. Even a new perspective has arisen. In some academic circles, the question is not so much who Jesus was or is, but whether Jesus even existed at all. Asking if Jesus existed or who is Jesus, is a question we must ask ourselves from time to time. The answer matters.

One could ask why does this question about Jesus persist? One answer is that we are finite beings seeking to understand an infinite Mystery. The full comprehension of the reality of Jesus existing as fully human and fully divine, dying on the cross, conquering death through his resurrection and ascending to the Father transcends even the wonderful intellect and ability to reason that we have been blessed with. Also, Jesus’ invitation is a universal but personal one. Jesus called the Twelve, Mary Magdalene, St. Irenaeus, St Thomas Aquinas, St Francis and Clare of Assisi, St Catherine of Siena, St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross, St Ignatius, St Mother Teresa, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, and us to himself. He did not call us to a philosophy, an ethical way of life, or even a religion. Jesus called and calls us to be a part of his Body, the Mystical Body of Christ.

Who is Jesus? Jesus the Christ is the Son of God incarnate. He became one with us in our humanity so we could be one with him in his divinity. I have said yes to his invitation and have been walking along these stepping stones of our journey together, more consciously so, since I was about seventeen. Life hasn’t been perfect, and I have at times mumbled along with St Teresa of Avila, who stated after she was thrown from a carriage into a mud puddle, “If you treat your friends this way, it is no wonder you have so few.” But I have experienced more days of inexpressible joy, such moments of wonder and exhilaration, and felt so blessed to see how Jesus works through me to help others, that I can be nothing but grateful for this journey with Jesus and I continue to look forward to what lies ahead!

Link for today’s Mass readings:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/092817.cfm

Painting: Fr. John Giuliani – Indigenous Jesus