You are the Christ of God

Jam. 2:1-9, Mk 8:27-33. Today's first reading hits out against all servile deference and class distinctions. Our faith should have no place for partiality, snobbery or elitism. We are not to judge people’s worth by their wealth or race, their class or social prestige. Standards like that, are regarded as corrupt estimates, arising from the unequal world of privilege and poverty. God will not have us show special regard to rich, fashionably dressed people, while despising others who are shabbily dressed. In the eyes of God, we are equally needy and deserve respect regardless of our rank. Today marks as a kind reminder for us to be charitable in our words, actions and deeds. In everything we say and do, we should reach out to everyone and love everyone equally without discrimination.

We should also resist those temptations of power, glory, wealth and fame, praise and vanity, all the things that will lead us astray from God and from His path. We have to look at the example set by Christ, as described in today's Gospel. Jesus asked His disciples who they think or say He is, while some said that He is a prophet and the One promised by God to come, Peter spoke firmly that he believed that Jesus is the Messiah and Holy One of God. Amid challenges and tensions, we see Jesus as the solution to all our problems. We carry various images of Him: miracle worker, problem solver, solution provider, one who abates all dangers; name it. He is all these, yes, but more than that, He has come to take us back to the Father. Yes, He is our Saviour, the One who reunites us with God, that is His real identity. The IDENTITY of Jesus we have, influences our thought pattern when we are joyful, relaxed, comfortable, feeling fulfilled and very positive about life. A good images of Him will help us when troubled, frightened, in a state of helplessness, sorrowful, feel abandoned or rejected

May the Lord help us to form a good image of Jesus Christ so that we can be open to Him in all our undertakings! Amen!! Good morning and have a glorious day!!!