21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

"The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as Christians will become disciples - students apprentices, practitioners - of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from Him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence." (Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship)

Simply knowing that Jesus is our Savior and saying that we believe, is not enough. We are called to so much more.

Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?" They say, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, but Jesus asks again "But who do YOU say that I am?" To which Peter replies, "You are Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus blesses his response and gives him the Keys to the Kingdom and great authority. But Peter's journey doesn't end there. It's not until after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descends upon him, that Peter steps fully into his identity as a disciple and living in the glorious freedom.

The Lord is inviting each of us into that same transformation, but we have to choose it. He wants us to live with the freedom and confidence and joy that comes with knowing we are the beloved children of God. So maybe the question we should continually bring to the Lord is this: "Is this the joy and freedom I was made for?"