SERMONS FOR LENT AND EASTER (SUNDAYS IN ORDINARY TIME)
"How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." (10:24) This is the central and eternal question about this One called Jesus the Christ. In the opening verses of Matthew's gospel we are told, "... and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ." (Matthew 1:16) Christ is a title for the one named Jesus. It is the Greek version of the Hebrew title "Messiah." Christ means Messiah. To call Jesus Messiah means to say that Jesus was the fulfillment of Jewish hope and expectations.