Catechesis Notes for the Week— Confessing Christ — Jesus promises that whoever confesses Him before men, He will confess before His Father in heaven. To confess Christ can sometimes mean a lonely life. The depth of human sin and its hold on people can be seen in the hatred people often exhibit toward the Gospel and those who confess Christ. We confess Jesus as the Savior of all who loves all and has redeemed all, but not all accept this gift. Why would they reject this precious Gospel that is their salvation? This is a mystery that we cannot answer. We are to take comfort in the promise of the Gospel and commend those who reject Christ to the same love of God for them that gives us comfort. Jesus knows our need. Do not fear those who hate you. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The Lord knows your need, even the hairs of our head are numbered. “Whoever confessed me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” This Word of the Lord is both a comforting promise and a sobering warning. Yet even the warning is given so that when we fall, as Peter did, we might return to Him whose mercy is new every day. As He restored Peter through His absolution, so He promises to restore us when we are brought to contrition and repentance. This is why we hold fast to Him especially in persecution.

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