In today’s readings we see three different people who can be us in our daily lives.  Shebna, a master of the palace, which is being fired, thrusted from his office and station.  Someone better than him would be serving the king.  All the clothing and status will be given to another more worthy. Shebna is us when we squander everything the Lord has given us in baptism. Our royal robe, our white garment, which will be taken from us because of our inaction.  Shebna are those who are living their lives guided by flesh and blood, by their evil desires.  For them Jesus is a non-factor, in fact for some of them he is a non-person. A fable, a myth made up by a corporation.  The Shebnas of the world are the people who live for themselves, and for them Jesus is not important.  Shebna,  becomes all of us who continue to ask, “Who is this Jesus?” After we have Eliakim, the replacement.  The one that was found worthy for now carry the sash and be given authority over the people.  We are the replacements, but for now.  We did not know how the story of Eliakim ended but with great power comes great responsibility. The sash and the title can also be taken away from us if we do not use the authority God has given us well.  And it is awfully tempting to use our “positions of power” and abuse the authority given to us in a temporary basis.  Eliakim is called to be a servant-leader, as we are too called to use whatever “authority” we have, to help others. We are called to be fathers to God’s people. Not to strive for positions of honor, but to open the door to others of heaven.  It is interesting when mentioning Eliakim, there is no reference to God.  We do not know what outcome he had as a leader in the end.  Eliakim may have had good intentions, but without God in his life, the temptation to abuse power was very much present.  Finally, there is Peter, who speaks with the two sides of his mouth most of the time. But we are given a valuable lesson and we know his profession of faith is not of his own doing, it is inspired by the Holy Spirit.  He utters the precise words “You are the Christ” not out of convenience but led by the Spirit.  Jesus  situates him and says you are merely a human, you were born of a man named Jonah, yet Peter will be the rock where the Lord will build His Church and he is given the power to forgive sins.  We are called to be like Peter, with our humanity aided by the Holy Spirit to profess Jesus as Lord.  We are called to not allow the world to define our relationship with Jesus, but strive each day be closer to Jesus. We are called to in someway be a rock of faith just like Peter.  Not to start a new church, but to strengthen our faith day and day and to see Jesus for what he truly is, the Christ the Son of the Living God.  These three people really can tell us where we are regarding the relationship with Christ. The Shebnas are those who have lost their dignity to the world, the Eliakims who may have good intentions and influence over others yet need more definition in their relationship with God, or the Peters though very human will be inspired by the Holy Spirit to become solid rocks of faith for others. Let us pray we end up being the right person before God.