His Holiness Pope Francis at Eucharistic Congress: Jesus asks each of us, ‘Who am I for you?’

This article is also available in Arabic.

His Holiness Pope Francis celebrates the concluding Mass for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, as a ‘Statio Orbis,’ a liturgy manifesting the unity of the whole Church around the table of the Lord.

By Christopher Wells

Jesus’ question to His disciples in Sunday’s Gospel — “Who do you say that I am?” — is addressed to each one of us personally, His Holiness Pope Francis said in his homily at the concluding Mass for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress.

It is a question, he said, that “calls for more than a quick answer straight out of the catechism.” Instead, “it requires a vital personal response.”

The Holy Father said that our response “renews us as disciples,” a renewal that involves three steps: proclaiming Jesus, discerning with Jesus, and following Jesus.

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Proclaiming Jesus

The first step - proclaiming Jesus - means more than simply recognising Jesus as the Messiah, as St Peter does. It involves proclaiming not only the glory of the resurrection but also the suffering of the Cross.

We, like the disciples, “would prefer a powerful Messiah rather than a crucified servant,” the Pope said. In the Eucharist, we are reminded of who God is, that Jesus accepted death for our salvation. “We would do well,” Pope Francis said, “to let ourselves be taken aback by those daunting words of Jesus."

Discerning with Jesus

This leads to the second step, he continued. Like St Peter, who was scandalized by the Cross, we too can “take the Lord aside, shove Him into the corner of our hearts,” and go our own way without allowing ourselves “to be affected by Jesus’ way of thinking,” the Pope said.

Jesus, however, wants to us to take His side, rather than siding with the world. Pope Francis encouraged us to spend time in adoration before the Eucharist, contemplating God’s weakness, allowing Jesus “to heal us of self-absorption” and “open our hearts to self-giving.” …

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