Who do you say Christ is?

Upon the truth which answers this question, Christ gives the rock foundation on which His Church is built. And on truth we members of the Church give witness. And since we have to ride on truth in our journey of faith, we witness to life everytime we profess our faith.

Witnessing to the truth about Christ is an act of charity. What is the fundamental truth about Christ? "Who do people say that I am? Simon Peter, the apostle, answers the question with this supreme affirmation of the Master: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:15-16). It is the main truth about Christ which if not believed in faith separates us from Christ.

Acceptance of the truth is an act of love. We can hope for the best when we accept this truth. Looking to Christ, we avow He is the only Savior of humankind. Men are foolish if they try solutions to their problems by adverse means. Look at what is happening in the Philippines today. We do not know who is telling the truth anymore – that adverse recourse to bribing people to tell a lie about opponents, that gross denial of wrong-doing, Atty. Jose Sison in his column, A Law Each Day (The Philippine STAR, Monday, August 15, 2005) speaking of the "Moment of Truth" made this statement: " I am not sure how many Filipinos can say without reservation that the moment of truth has come… let’s really hope that our congressmen may not play politics in resolving these issues because when politics come into play, truth may never come out. Politics and truth are simply incompatible." So we too become incompatible with ourselves, incompatible with one another if we do not profess and give witness to the truth about Christ. We simply lose direction in this labyrinth of worldly chaos; we simply lose Christ, our radar, our center.

Looking to Christ, the only Savior of humankind, every local church (parish, groups and associations), is strongly called to become aware of the fact that "the number of those who do not know Christ and do not belong to the Church is constantly on the increase. Indeed, since the end of the Council it has almost doubled. When we consider this immense portion of humanity which is loved by the Father and for whom He sent His Son the urgency of the Church’s mission is obscure.

The local Church of the Philippines still exercise a strong influence on every area of society and government with regards to faith and morals. Every member of the Church is called to deepen faith with a universal openness towards that part of humanity which has not yet received the Gospel, so that the Risen Christ may be for everyone "the way, the truth and the life".

We are all called to share in the same sentiments of Christ. Loving all of humanity and the Church, so that all may share fully in the gift of liberating salvation. Those who have the missionary spirit feel Christ’s burning love for souls, and love the Church as Christ does. We as people of God are called to promote an incisive and lasting undertaking in the field of information, missionary formation and animation, that will influence every ecclesial activity to be open to the universal economic, cultural, moral and spiritual needs.

Who do you say Christ is? To believe in faith and live the truth that He is the Son of the living God is sharing with Peter’s primacy. We are assured that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us because we stand on an indestructible foundation of a living truth.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary time, Matthew 16:13-28