There is more to the question Jesus put to his disciples of, “Who do you say that I am?” than simply acknowledging who Jesus was and is. 

The question is an invitation to have a personal knowledge of Jesus.Father David Scotchie of Nativity Catholic Church in Longwood addressed the well-known Biblical passage in the Aug. 30 bulletin to parishioners.

“Knowing him personally and intimately is bedrock to our faith,” Scotchie said in the bulletin.

And maintaining that relationship is not simple. Much like the sacrifices of denial and commitment required for maintaining basic physical condition, maintaining— or even better, growing— a relationship with Jesus is a daily commitment of time and effort.

“Following the Lord obligates us to nourish our relationship with him,” Scotchie said.

Scotchie urged the faithful to meet daily with God in prayer, and to seek to grow a personal relationship with Jesus. Yet, the commitment does not begin and end with that daily time set aside, either.

As someone training for a more healthy physical life cannot simply work out for 30 minutes, then indulge in every negative and destructive behavior the rest of the day— skipping sleep, overeating and indulging bad habits— so a Christian wishing to have a healthy spiritual life must consider how that decision is reflected in every moment of their day and week.

From interactions with family members, friends and neighbors; to choices regarding how one votes in elections; every aspect of a Christian’s life should reflect that decision to lead a Christian life.

“In their statement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. Catholic Bishops remind Catholics, ‘Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation,’” Scotchie said. “The consequences of knowing the Lord are clear— self-denial and the cross." And for that to be true and effective, it must be an aspect of every moment of a Christian’s life.