Jesus "asked His disciples this question: 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' " (Mt 16:13) In today's Gospel reading, some said Jesus was the Prophet; others said He was the Messiah (Jn 7:40-41). However, talking about Jesus doesn't necessarily lead us to Jesus. Rather, we need to talk to Jesus or, even better, let Jesus talk to us. For example, the guards sent to arrest Jesus returned empty-handed and said: "No man ever spoke like that before" (Jn 7:46). Nicodemus, who had met Jesus personally (see Jn 3:1ff), encouraged the court of the Sanhedrin first to hear Jesus rather than blindly condemning Him (Jn 7:51). We don't come to Jesus by taking a poll to see who people say Jesus is. We need to say with Paul: "I assure you, brothers, the gospel I proclaimed to you is no mere human invention. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I schooled in it. It came by revelation from Jesus Christ" (Gal 1:11-12).

What if you were having an animated discussion with someone about the identity and authenticity of a third party? What if that third party was present hearing your discussion? Wouldn't it make sense to quit talking about the third party and talk directly to him? Let's hear, speak with, obey, and serve Jesus. Let us hear the voice of Jesus through His body, the Church, and especially in her Scriptures. Let's live sacramental lives and relate directly to Jesus, the eternal High Priest.

Information about Jesus is not enough. We need a deep, personal relationship with Him forever.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Richard Walling, July 18, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 24, 2003