How good are you at introductions?

Last night, I attended the progressive BBQ for St. Ann’s parish at the Bermuda swimming pool. There were a lot of folks there, a lot of people whom I had not met before. So many people made introductions for me. Some of those introductions were more effective than others. There were the predictable introductions – the high school you went to, your occupation, what neighborhood you lived in. Those are always safe. But the good introductions were the ones that led to further conversations. They gave the other enough information to continue a dialogue or to initiate a follow up question or questions. My favorite introductions of last night – a mother introducing me to her son: “Here is the man who turns you upside down. I knew how to continue that conversation…

“Who do you say the son of man is?” comes the question from Jesus. In other words, how do you introduce me to your friends? Or when others speak of me, how do they introduce me? The disciples responded not with incidentals that we are used to using – place of birth, occupation, education – but with images from their past: Jeremiah; Elijah; John the Baptist. The great figures of history. As if to say, - ‘in Jesus, we know one who acts with the power of God.’ But Jesus say in effect – it’s not enough to view me from images of your past. I want a real introduction. “But you, who do you say I am? Who am I to you NOW…

And Peter gets it right. You are CHRISTOS – messiah – one who is intimately involved with my hopes and dreams. That’s what that word ‘Christos’ suggests. You are the one whom I have longed for all my life. You are my reason for believing… It’s a great introduction to Jesus, isn’t it? If you are introduced to someone as the reason for your hope, as a reason to get up in the morning, as the reason for all the choices you will face – I think I have more than enough things to continue to conversation with. More than enough to engage in a dialogue. How did you become that to him? What does he see in you that makes him regard you so highly? How do you live that integrally? And the handshake is given. The conversation begins. And like all good introductions, the one who does it no longer matters. What is important is the interaction that begins.

Isn’t that what we are about here at the Catholic Newman Center? Making the good introduction to Jesus and then getting out of the way. It is what all the preparation that people do for this Sunday liturgy are about – making the introduction. So people practice their readings, they dress up as greeters, they work hard on the music or the homily or the moment when they will hand you the bread or the cup – so that we come to know Jesus in that introduction. We do the things we do to aid the time when, like Peter, in a moment of grace and blessing from God, Jesus is revealed to us, in the breaking of the bread, and the sharing of the cup.

Who do you say I am? We often hear that as a question addressed to the disciples. But it is the unspoken question that God asks of us in every moment of our day, every encounter with another human being. Who do you say Jesus is? And we give answer to that with our actions long before we ever open our mouths. So what is the introduction that you give in your actions to others about Jesus? What do they know about this man because of You?

Though there are many ways to pray into this question, let me suggest 2 areas to work on re: our introduction of Jesus.
1) You matter. Are we looking over someone’s shoulder at a gathering to see who else is in the room – or do they have our undivided attention? Do we communicate to them that THEY MATTER to us – as they matter to Jesus?
2) Loosing and Binding are the ‘powers’ given to Peter. Do they know the forgiveness of Jesus because of your forgiveness? Do they know the binding of a heart to obedience and love and service in your love of them. How well do you introduce them into the life of Jesus’ obedience and forgiveness.

Introductions are so important. They begin relationships. Good introductions facilitate the growth of both parties. Tonight, at this table, Jesus introduces us to a Father’s love, a Son’s gift, a Spirit’s abundance. And if that is not a good introduction, I don’t know what is…