September 26, 2025, the Gospel reading from Luke 9:18-22. This passage offers profound insights for both Christian and secular audiences, particularly on the theme of rejecting divisive rhetoric by focusing on a deeper, unifying truth over popular, often conflicting, opinions.
The reading recounts a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry. He asks his disciples two questions: “Who do the crowds say that I am?” and “But who do you say that I am?” The disciples respond to the first question with a variety of popular opinions: “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” However, Peter, in response to the second, more personal question, declares, “The Christ of God.” Jesus then commands them not to spread this declaration and foretells his suffering, rejection, and resurrection.
For a Christian Audience: The Unity of a Singular Truth
For Christians, this passage underscores the importance of a personal and unified faith in Christ over the fluctuating and divisive opinions of the world. The various answers about Jesus’ identity represent the noise and speculation of the crowd—rhetoric that can lead to division and misunderstanding. By contrast, Peter’s confession represents a singular, unifying truth for the disciples.
The explicit instruction from Jesus to “tell no one” can be understood as a caution against engaging in debates fueled by popular, and often misguided, rhetoric. He recognized that the title “Christ” or “Messiah” was loaded with political and revolutionary expectations that would have created further division. Instead, he redirects his disciples’ focus toward the deeper, unifying reality of his coming suffering and resurrection—a path of humility and service rather than one of power and conquest that would have fed into the divisive rhetoric of the time. This serves as a timeless call for Christians to ground their identity and unity in the core tenets of their faith rather than getting entangled in the divisive arguments of the day.
For a Secular Audience: The Clarity of Principled Identity
From a secular perspective, this narrative offers a powerful allegory for navigating a world rife with divisive rhetoric. The central theme is the distinction between public opinion and a core, principled identity. The “crowds” represent the cacophony of voices and labels that society often imposes, which can be polarizing and superficial. These are the narratives that fuel division, boxing individuals and ideas into simplistic and often conflicting categories.
Jesus’ second question, “But who do you say that I am?”, is a call to move beyond this external noise and define oneself or one’s purpose based on a deeper, more personal understanding. For an individual or a community, this translates to a commitment to core values and principles rather than being swayed by the ever-changing and often inflammatory rhetoric of the public square.
The passage’s conclusion, where Jesus speaks of suffering and rejection, further enriches this secular interpretation. It suggests that standing for a principled identity may not always be popular and can lead to opposition from established powers (“the elders, chief priests, and scribes”). Rejecting divisive rhetoric often means taking a path that is not politically expedient or socially celebrated. It requires the courage to stand for a more complex, nuanced truth in the face of pressures to conform to a simpler, more divisive narrative.
In essence, for both the Christian and secular observer, Luke 9:18-22 champions the pursuit of a profound, unifying identity over the shallow and often-conflicting labels imposed by the world. It is a call to reject the divisive chatter of the crowd and instead anchor oneself in a truth that, while perhaps challenging, ultimately offers a more coherent and unified path forward.
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