Who likes exams? I think that very few people do. But we all have to pass exams all the time. In school, for a driving license, at the university, sometimes in our jobs. But the most important exams are the exams about our lives. These are the most important and the most difficult. This is especially true of the exams about our humanity. Today we can see how the apostles faced and passed their exam...

 The most difficult exam, because this was about their faith. Jesus asked them two questions. The first: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” It is a simple question for the apostles and they responded immediately: “Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets”. Then came the second question: “But you, who do you say I am?” This question is very difficult. But Simon Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

Yes. We can say Simon Peter passed the exam. The most difficult and the most important exam in his life. Therefore Jesus made Peter the rock on which Jesus Christ was to build the Church. This was the greatest prize.

How did Peter prepare for this exam? Which book was he reading?

We know Peter didn’t need books. He had a very special teacher. This teacher was Jesus himself. And Peter was very close to Jesus, to his teacher. This allowed him to give this answer. And therefore God revealed to him this truth.

But today’s gospel is not only about the apostles and Simon Peter. The gospel today is about all of us. For Jesus asks every one of us:

“Who do you say I am?”

What is our answer to this question? We can’t not answer this question. We cannot pretend we don’t hear this question. We have to give an answer and pass this exam about our faith. Words are not enough. To answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” is insufficient. We must answer this question throughout our lives and by our lives. Then we will be able to pass this exam, the exam about our faith.

How can we best answer Jesus’ question today?

Perhaps we should listen to the Peter of our times. Just before the Twenty-sixth World Youth Days in Madrid the Pope showed all believers how to be close to Jesus. By this closeness we can, like Peter, pass the exam about our faith and our lives. Let us hear the teaching of the Holy Father:

It is in the sacraments that he [Jesus] draws particularly near to us and gives himself to us. Dear young people, learn to “see” and to “meet” Jesus in the Eucharist, where he is present and close to us, and even becomes food for our journey. In the sacrament of Penance the Lord reveals his mercy and always grants us his forgiveness. Recognize and serve Jesus in the poor, the sick, and in our brothers and sisters who are in difficulty and in need of help.

Enter into a personal dialogue with Jesus Christ and cultivate it in faith. Get to know him better by reading the Gospels and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Converse with him in prayer, and place your trust in him. He will never betray that trust! (…) Thus you will acquire a mature and solid faith, one which will not be based simply on religious sentiment or on a vague memory of the catechism you studied as a child. You will come to know God and to live authentically in union with him(…).

My brothers and sisters, let us pray today for strong faith. May Almighty God reveal to us that Jesus is the true God so that we will able to pass the exam about our faith.