During my undergraduate years, I recall that our group was ecstatic each time we got together. Usually, we would remain at our friend’s place to talk, eat, or even take a trip out of town. One time, surprisingly, something went wrong with one of our companions. She fainted and we were not able to wake her up. Immediately, we rushed her in the hospital. Only at that very moment, when we arrived there, we knew she was so sick and feeble. We tried to communicate with her parents but unfortunately, they were out of the country with her other siblings. We were all pathetic. Only then did we realize we failed to know her well. We thought we knew her but we did not because even the simplest questions about her we couldn’t respond to the queries of the doctor. It was a sad thing because yes, we were always together but there was no depth in our relationship. What went wrong then?

In our gospel reading from Mark, Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do you say I am?” In reply: “John the Baptist! Others said Elijah! One of the Prophets!” Then He asked them again: “But, who do you say that I am?” Peter replied: “You are the Christ!” Then Jesus warned them not to tell to anyone.

It is then remarkable the first response of His disciples. They were only clamoring the names posed by the people. It was just a kind of hearsay. But when Jesus asked them again, the reply of Peter was different. There was something more than that. He acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, the anointed one. In Jesus’ time, it’s applied most distinctively to the kings, describing the leadership fulfilling Israel’s hopes for God’s promises. Then at the latter part, He was trying to keep them in silent because He avoided false interpretations of Him being a Messiah. In His teachings He was already speaking about His sufferings and His death and reiterating to the disciples that whoever wishes to come after Him must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Him…

Following Jesus radically is a challenge. It is not simply claiming that I follow Him. It is more than knowing but accepting and denying oneself for the good of others. It is not for grandeur that I follow Him, rather it is a commitment that entails our whole being. Jesus gave Himself to us without preservation and of loving us unconditionally without counting the cost. It is carrying our daily crosses in our lives. Many times, we will fall but it is not a reason that when we fail, never again we can raise up and face the world. It is part of discipleship. In our family or in a community demands us to accept each one because it is a love that binds us together. In this year of prayer, let us continuously ask the grace to bear our crosses in life and to not stumble. May the Holy Spirit help us to be mindful of the people whom we share ourselves. The relationship is not superficial but rather go into the deep and live out the non-superficiality of relating to others. Let us also remember that we also have our own divinity despite of our frailties and we are loved by God more than we ever know. And Jesus never gives up on us.

May God be blessed!