In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus engages in a powerful and personal dialogue with His disciples, asking them, “Who do people say that I am?” The responses vary—John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets—but it is Peter’s response, when Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” that shifts the conversation. Peter, in his boldness, proclaims, “You are the Christ.”
This dialogue between Jesus and Peter is more than just a historical event; it is a mirror for our own faith journey. Jesus is asking each of us today, “Who do you say that I am?” This question is both deeply personal and transformative. It calls us not just to recite what others believe about Christ, but to reflect on who He is for us individually, in our hearts and lives. It’s easy to repeat the creeds and teachings, but this Gospel invites us to make our faith personal.
This dialogue between Jesus and Peter not only challenges Peter’s faith, but it challenges us, too. As Peter boldly declares Jesus to be the Christ, he struggles to accept that suffering is part of the Messiah’s journey. This invites us to reflect on our own understanding of faith and how we face the unpredictability of life.
Life, much like a game, often puts us in situations that test our understanding of what will happen next. Two different approaches—determinism and probabilistic theory—offer insights into how we view the world and the events in our lives.
Determinism is the idea that every event is the result of a specific cause, meaning that, given enough information, everything can be predicted with certainty. A good example of determinism is the game of chess. Every move in chess is determined by the rules, and with perfect knowledge of the board and the opponent’s strategy, one could theoretically predict the entire game from start to finish. The outcome is based on logical moves and responses, with little room for chance or uncertainty. It is all skill. If you beat me in a game of chess, it is because you are better at the game and your skill is higher than mine. There is no chance or luck in the game!
Probabilistic theory, on the other hand, embraces the idea that some events cannot be predicted with certainty, but rather occur based on probabilities. The game of poker is an example. In poker, players don’t have all the information—cards are hidden, other players play their hands very differently, and luck plays a major role. The outcome depends not only on strategy but also on chance, as well as how the other players interact and play their hands, making the game far less predictable than chess.
These two theories offer helpful perspectives when reflecting on our faith journey. We may sometimes approach life as if it were a game of chess—hoping that if we make all the right moves, we can control the outcome. But more often than not, life resembles poker: filled with uncertainty, hidden information, and outcomes that we can’t predict or control. It is in these moments of unpredictability that Jesus calls us to trust in Him.
When Jesus tells Peter that He must suffer and die, Peter resists because it doesn’t fit into his understanding of how things “should” work. Like Peter, we may struggle with the chaos and ambiguity of life, wishing for a more certain, deterministic path where things unfold according to our plans. However, Jesus shows us that suffering, ambiguity, and even seeming defeat are part of the journey to resurrection. We are not called to control every outcome, but to trust in God’s greater plan, even when it’s unclear or painful.
In this way, faith is much more like playing poker than chess. We don’t always have all the answers, and we can’t always predict how things will turn out. Yet, we are invited to follow Christ, to make the best decisions we can with the limited knowledge we have, and to trust that God is with us through it all. Jesus asks us to let go of our need for certainty and control, and instead to embrace the uncertainty of life with faith, trusting that He will lead us through the chaos to new life.
This weekend, we have a special opportunity to live out this trust and commitment by participating in our parish Stewardship and Ministry Fair. Just as in the game of poker, where each player plays a unique role, we too are called to “play a hand” in the life of our parish community. No matter where we are in our faith journey, we each have gifts to offer and a role to play. I encourage everyone to sign up for at least one liturgical ministry, whether it be as a lector, Eucharistic minister, or tech AV minister, and one additional ministry that resonates with your talents and passions. Whether it’s helping with social justice, hospitality, youth ministry, or any of our other parish services, your participation helps build a stronger, more vibrant community of faith.
Together, let us embrace our call to stewardship and ministry, trusting that God is with us as we contribute to the mission of our parish and beyond. Every role matters, and through our shared efforts, we can navigate the uncertainties of life with the confidence that we are doing God’s work.
Last weekend was a great example of this community at its best with the Parish BBQ. We had over 900 people in attendance, and it was so much fun. Thank you all for coming to celebrate our community. In a special way, thank you to Michelle Duschene who led the whole event. She and her team did a fantastic job. Also thank you to Deanne Bligh, Parish Life Group (PLG) Chair, Angela Schauffler who coordinated set-up & food service, Jaime Chapin for decor, and Melissa Moody for promoting our Cash Calendar Raffle. Special thanks to the core team and to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly in the background to make this a wonderful event for all to enjoy! They will need more help next year, please consider joining the team or volunteering at the event. Email your interest to communications@stsimon.org.
As we reflect on this Gospel and our own lives, let us remember that our journey of faith is not about having all the answers or being able to predict every step. It’s about trusting in Christ, even in the face of suffering and uncertainty, and knowing that He is with us, guiding us toward the fullness of life.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan