There is no record of Jesus entering the city, but the great confession and the transfiguration both occurred in the vicinity of a cluster of villages, then known as Caesarea Philippi. Jesus had taken his disciples to the edge of the Jewish world, to the base of Mount Hermon, where a large number of pagan altars and worship sites had been created. This was a place which later was named Panias after the pagan deity Pan, the half-man half-goat god of shepherds and of fright; his name is the stem from which we get the word “panic.” There at the base of a mountain Jesus asks the disciples “Who do people think that I am?”

In that area where people had expressed multiple thoughts of gods, the disciples recited what they had heard about Jesus. Then he asked, “‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’” Near the huge rock of Mount Hermon, the pebble, on which Jesus said he will build the church, voices the declaration which must rise from all persons of faith. Jesus takes the disciples to place where others had come to seek the Divine. Jesus had heard what others thought. Yet, Peter expressed the ultimate belief that his teacher was the route to G_d. An expression, not something that Peter had suspected or heard, but what knew in his heart, “You are the Anointed One.” One would think that such a strong statement of faith could not be swayed, but we know that this was not the case.

The Rock of the Church had weaknesses, imperfections, and wavered, even unto his martyrdom. Peter immediately panicked as Jesus spoke of his coming death and suffering. Peter would again think in human terms rather than the Divine, and Peter would need Jesus’ exhortation to put satan behind the path of truth. What never changed, was Peter was chosen, and once chosen, then G_d is eternally faithful. We also are weak, have imperfections, will vacillate, and experience panic. We also set our minds on human things more often than the Divine, yet we too, are chosen. Jesus patiently awaits our declaration of faith, and our desire to allow the Spirit to direct us towards better practices in the world and a better citizenship in eternity.

We do not need a legal nor religious reason for every good deed, and neither a statutory nor Divine prohibition against every hurtful act. All human beings are similar in nature, we should feed one another, comfort one another, listen to one another, love one another. The Creator continually views His handiwork, a human family and human persons, who were and are summoned to be servants, because G_d has spoken an irrevocable and creative word. Love calling us to act in His absence. Thus to be consistently Muslim, Jew, Christian, pagan, or any designation means to be consistently human. Start by always demonstrating and respecting the dignity of all humans, and only then expecting something from others. Be nice! It was nice of the Creator to make you; therefore, you be nice. Your neighbor is a human being.

Pax,

jbt