A reading from the gospel according to Mark 8:27-33:

27 Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
28 They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.”
29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.”
30 Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.
32 He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Reflection: So near and yet so far

In the previous readings, we have known the healing miracles of blind, deaf and mute people. In the gospel passage above, we have the great revelation of who Jesus is. Now the spiritual eyes and ears of the apostles were opened and they can now see Jesus as the Messiah. Through Peter, they can now verbalize it by saying, “You are the Christ”.

Yet the apostles cannot see the totally of Jesus’ being the Messiah. Take note of Peter’s reaction when the Lord told them of His impending rejection, suffering and death. They can see His body, hear His voice and feel His presence but they do not totally grasped who He is as the Messiah. He was so near to them physically and yet so far from their understanding.

Just like the Kingdom of God. Jesus assured us that the kingdom is in our midst. Yet we do not fully experience it. We believe that Jesus is the Messiah but our total deliverance from all forms of evil is yet to be completed. He is here within our midst but the time to be totally be united with Him is yet to come.

It really takes a deep desire, loving relationship and complete trust to fully know Jesus. We just have to open our heart and He Himself will reveal What He wants us to know. Let us continue to pray for the gift of wisdom and understanding.

For further reflection, go here.