I wrote a post a few days ago about the historical-critical method in Christology, specifically Hans Kung’s work.
I have been writing, too, about Pope John Paul I in recent posts.
I was re-reading Papa Luciani’s homily from his installation Mass (for which I was an altar server), remembering listening to him, only feet from his chair, deliver it. He had an pertinent point when he spoke of Peter’s confession of faith. The English translation is below:
“(Peter’s) profession of faith was not the product of the Bethsaida fisherman’s human logic or the expression of any special insight of his or the effect of some psychological impulse; it was rather the mysterious and singular result of a real revelation of the Father in heaven.” PP John Paul I, 3 Sept 78.
I ask myself then, “How do I know Jesus best? Most accurately?”
Perhaps Luciani reminds us that to know Jesus intimately is a gift from the Father. Certainly, Peter and the other Eleven knew the Jesus of history well, but only Peter, we are told, recognized him for who he was. This he recognized by gift of the Father through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus himself told us to recognize him in the little ones, in the poor, the sick, the lame, the marginalized. They are the Jesus of our history.
