In the First reading the prophet Isaiah gives us a glimpse of the Lord Jesus’ thoughts as He walks towards His death. Isaiah 50:5 says, “The Lord GOD opened my ear; I did not refuse, did not turn away.” The Lord Jesus heard the voice of God and because of this, the things happening around Him and to Him were not as important as obeying the voice of God. Hearing the voice of God and doing as God asked was the foundation of the Lord Jesus’ life. No amount of torture, humiliation and fear could stop Him from obeying God and dying on the cross. The Lord Jesus had an intimate relationship with the Father. He heard the voice of God and therefore He knew the Father had a plan and everything was happening to glorify God. He went through everything focused on God.

Can we say that God is the foundation of our lives? I personally cannot say that He is the focus of my life. As much as I want to make the Lord Jesus the number one priority in my life, it does not always happen. Today, the Lord is calling us back to Him. We must build the foundation of our lives on the Lord. We can do this by having an intimate relationship with the Lord. It does not happen overnight. St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.” Each day as we sit to pray and open our hearts and minds to the Word of God, we take a step closer to Him. As we gaze upon Him, we will slowly become like Him.

Where can we start this journey of faith? The answer is given to us in today’s Gospel proclamation. The Lord Jesus asks the disciples who the people say He is and today He is asking us this same question. Who do we say He is in our lives? He wants us to start by knowing who He is. He is the living God (Matthew 16:15, 16). He is the alpha and the omega (Revelation 1:8).

He is merciful and compassionate and in love with us (Psalm 86:15). Today, the Lord is calling us to open our Bibles and discover who He really is.

Prayer: Abba Father, I pray for the grace to know you more. My heart sings, ‘I want to know you, I want to hear your voice, I want to know you more’. Amen.