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Is Jesus just an idea or a person?

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

Herod Antipas, the ruler over Galilee and Perea, heard stories about Jesus. The range of his thoughts, expressed by Luke, is confusion to curiosity, and regarding what he did to John the Baptist, his rumination could have been much worse. 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 as had feared John while at the same time “liked to listen to him” (Mark 6:20). Could this Jesus accomplish even half of the things Herod had heard about him? One question that did not seem to cross Herod’s mind was whether he had any interest in changing his life and becoming a follower of Jesus.

Herod was not the only one in Luke’s Gospel who asked 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, which led to the calling of the first ecumenical councils that dealt directly with who Jesus was, and they continued in each following century and continue today. There are even at present, within some academic circles, that question whether Jesus even existed at all.

One could ask why this question about the identity of Jesus still persists? One answer is that we are finite beings seeking to understand an infinite Mystery. To comprehend the reality that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, fully divine, who took on human flesh in the womb of Mary, lived fully human, died on the cross, conquered death through his resurrection, and ascended to and sits at the right hand of the Father transcends can stretch our capacity of our ability to reason. Also, Jesus’ invitation is a universal but personal one. Each individual person has to encounter Jesus for her or himself.

Jesus called the Twelve, as well as Mary Magdalene, St. Irenaeus, St Thomas Aquinas, St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, St. Ignatius, St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal, St. Mother Teresa, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, along with two of our newest saints – St. Pier Giorgio and St. Carlo. He also calls each one of us as well. He did not call us to just merely embrace a new philosophy, a new ethical way of life, or even a new religion. Jesus called and calls us to be a part of his Body, the Mystical Body of Christ.

Who is Jesus? Herod asks in today’s Gospel. It is a good question for us to ask as well. For me, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, who became incarnate, becoming one with us in our humanity so that we could become one with him in his divinity. This same Jesus who called others through the ages invites us to follow him today as well and he continues to walk this journey with us, whether we say yes or no to his invitation. We are more aware of his presence with us and receive more of his help when we say yes!

Life with Jesus isn’t perfect, and we will at times echo 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 we will, as did Teresa, also experience moments of inexpressible joy, of wonder and exhilaration, and feel blessed when Jesus works and loves through us.

St. Teresa of Avila had a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus and knew him as her closest friend because she heard him knocking and let Jesus in. She spent determined and intentional time consistently with him. She spent an hour before and an hour after Mass each day. She set aside specific, daily anchor times of personal meditation and prayer, contemplated upon and experienced deep intimacy with God, which allowed her times of such closeness such that she experienced Jesus as well in her daily activities. She was able to share with him her joys and frustrations because Jesus was that close to her.

Let Jesus not be just a passing curiosity as he was with Herod Antipas. Jesus is standing, knocking, (cf. Revelation 3:20) inviting us to open the door and let him in. Jesus is inviting us as he did with Zacchaeus to come down from the tree and take him to his home (cf. 19:5). Jesus is calling us to come and follow as he did with Matthew (cf. Matthew 9:9-13). Jesus is no myth, nor was his death the end. He died and conquered death for us. He is alive and well, and inviting us to follow him today. All Jesus waits for is our, “Yes.” and for us to make a few steps with him. Jesus will take care of the rest!

Photo accessed through Pinterest. Maybe we don’t know Jesus as well as we like because when we pray, we just say words, instead of realizing that we are really praying with a person.

Link for the Mass readings for Thursday, September 25, 2025

Let us spend time with Jesus, trust, and follow where he leads.

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply,” Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets” (Lk 5:4-5).

Faith is to believe in God and that what he tells us is true. On our own initiative and will power we are limited as finite beings regarding what we can understand and do. Today’s Gospel reading provides an example of this. Simon had been fishing all night with no results. Simon Peter follows Jesus’ command to go back out and put into the deep, and Simon not only accomplishes what he originally set out to do, but he also did so beyond anything he had ever imagined!

When we follow God’s direction and initiative all things are possible for us as well.

God’s initiative and grace enter our lives daily just like Jesus entered Simon’s boat. Do we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a willingness to listen and follow the initiative of Jesus? Remember the rich man who had followed all the commandments, but when Jesus invited him to sell all and come and follow him, he could not do it. All he was asking for was right in front of him, and yet, the man did not believe in Jesus.

Rejecting the offer is one way to miss the mark. We can also miss the mark as Simon the magician did. When he saw the works of Philip, Peter, and John, he wanted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit to heal for his own aggrandizement, but was rebuked. Turning away from Jesus’ invitation or seeking to manipulate Jesus for our own personal gain will not bring us the fulfillment that we seek. Discipleship with Jesus is about relationship with him.

A better example to follow is that of Mary, who when the archangel Gabriel shared God’s message with her that she was to bear a child, even though she did not understand how this could be, Mary entrusted herself to God. She conceived in her womb, through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, the God-Man, the incarnate Son of God, Jesus the Christ. Joseph also trusted. After hearing the news from Mary, he had decided to quietly divorce her. Gabriel also spoke to him in a dream and Joseph trusted.

Peter, James, and John, although less adept in their faith, are maybe even better examples for us. They followed Jesus’ request and lowered their nets, even though they did not see the point. They followed through and were amazed. Then led by Peter’s humility and contrition, they “left everything” and followed Jesus. They went on to announce the Gospel of the Lord and caught people for the Kingdom of heaven.

Where are we today in our faith journey? Are we walking away from Jesus, are we seeking to gain access to the power of Jesus on our own terms, or do we have the humility to follow Jesus, on his terms, even when we may feel or see no point in his request? God has a plan, as he did for Mary, Joseph, and the Apostles. In a quiet place in our soul, in the stillness of our hearts, Jesus is inviting us to follow him. What we may hear may seem unbelievable, or insignificant, we may even experience anxiety, fear, and/or trepidation. Yet, let us trust, risk, and follow Jesus where he leads and what he asks us to do.

I did just that a few years ago. After following JoAnn’s guidance to put everything on the table regarding my options of how to live my life without her, I whittled down eight options to two, and then asked God, “What do you want me to do?” In the silence of my heart, I heard quietly, but clearly, “priesthood.” The two years returning to seminary were not easy, and about two months in, when I told Jesus that, “I didn’t think I can this.” He said, “You can’t. But I can.” I trusted and followed his lead.

When we allow our hearts and minds to be open to where God is leading us, we will not only be happy, but we will find fulfillment and meaning in our lives, such that it overflows to others. As Pope Benedict put it during his first homily as Pope, “There is nothing more beautiful than to know him and to speak to others of our friendship with him” (Gadenz, 111). I agree.

Photo: St. Mary’s Chapel, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary where I went often to listen.

The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018.

Link for the Mass readings for Thursday, September 4, 2025