Reading 1
Eccl 3:1-11
There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every thing under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.
What advantage has the worker from his toil?
I have considered the task that God has appointed
for the sons of men to be busied about.
He has made everything appropriate to its time,
and has put the timeless into their hearts,
without man's ever discovering,
from beginning to end, the work which God has done.
Gospel
Lk 9:18-22
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah;
still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'"
Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter said in reply, "The Christ of God."
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised."
Meditation: Luke 9:18-22
“Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20)
How would you answer this question? Of course we can repeat words that we learned from our catechism, but Jesus wants us to know him and not just know facts about him.
For one thing, Jesus wants you to know him as your friend and companion. He once told his disciples that there is no greater love than “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Do you have a friend would die for you? Absolutely! His name is Jesus. So come to him today, and let him show you that he is a friend you can truly depend on. He will never turn you away. He will never abandon you.
Jesus is also the Good Shepherd, guiding and directing you through the Holy Spirit. Did you know that you can learn to hear Jesus’ voice—not in your ears but in your heart? It takes practice and a bit of discipline, but you really can learn how to quiet your heart, focus on Jesus, and begin to sense his comfort, his guidance, and his direction. Then, when you are lost, you can experience him giving you light for your path. When you are fearful, you can turn to him for comfort and strength. When you are confused, you can listen for an answer in his still, small voice.
Jesus is the Divine Healer. Scripture says: “Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5). On the cross, Jesus bore our sin and our brokenness. Although he was God, he was fully human and experienced everything that we’ve experienced. He knows what disappointment and loneliness feel like. He knows what it is like to lose a loved one to sickness and death. So let him tend to your wounds and pour his grace onto you. Remember: By his resurrection, Jesus has given you the hope of your own resurrection—and the resurrection of those dear to you.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus doesn’t want us just to know him by his titles. He wants us to know him in our hearts. So draw near to him and ask him to show himself to you.
“Thank you, Jesus, for being my Lord and Savior. I exalt you! Inflame my heart with a desire to know you more intimately.”
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