Imagine someone you really admire. It might be a musician, an author, an actor or a footballer – someone you’ve followed for years. If I asked you about them, you could probably tell me where they grew up, what they have achieved, things about their family, their career, their successes and failures. Perhaps you’ve watched every interview they’ve ever given. You may even have read their biography. You might have their books on your shelf, their music playing in your house, or even their picture up on the wall.

Now imagine that tomorrow you’re walking down the street and suddenly you bump into them. You recognise them straight away, but they have absolutely no idea who you are. There’s a huge difference between knowing a lot about somebody and actually knowing them.

That is right at the heart of the question Jesus asks in this Sunday’s Gospel: “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter knows who Jesus is because he has first come to know him personally. He has walked with him, listened to him, watched him heal people, seen his power, eaten with him, trusted him and followed him. Now God opens Peter’s eyes. This man he has been walking with is not simply a carpenter from Nazareth. He is not simply a teacher or even a prophet. He is the Christ, the promised Messiah, the Saviour God has sent. More than that, he is the Son of the living God made man.

This is the heart of Christianity. Christianity is not first of all a set of rules. It is not first of all about being a good person. It is not first of all about making your First Holy Communion, getting married in church or having a Catholic funeral. At the centre of everything is a person: Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God who came into our broken world for us, who came close to sinners, who gave his life on the Cross for our sins and who rose from the dead.

Jesus is not simply somebody who lived two thousand years ago. He is alive. He wants us to know him. He wants a relationship with us. He wants to share his life with us.

It is perfectly possible to know a great deal about Jesus without really knowing him. You can know that he was born in Bethlehem and that Mary was his mother. You can know that he died on the Cross and rose again. You can have attended Catholic school for fourteen years. You can know the words of the Creed. You can have been baptised, made your First Holy Communion and Confirmation. You can never miss Mass. And still not really know Jesus.

Sometimes people say to me, “Father, I don’t understand it. My child went to Catholic school. They made their Communion and Confirmation. Why don’t they come to church anymore?” Perhaps that isn’t quite the first question we need to ask. The deeper question is this: did they ever really come to know the living Lord Jesus? Did they ever discover that Christianity was not simply something they had to do, but someone they could know?

I often have to ask myself the same question. I can spend my days celebrating Jesus’ Eucharist, preparing homilies about him, talking about him and ministering his sacraments. But I still have to ask myself: am I actually growing closer to him? Do I know him better than I used to?

Perhaps that’s a good question for all of us. Do I know Jesus better today than I did five years ago?

Relationships can grow, but relationships can also grow cold. Perhaps there was a time when you prayed more. Perhaps there was a time when Jesus felt much closer. Perhaps, little by little, other things have taken over. If that’s the case, then begin again. Speak to him. Not only by saying prayers, but by talking to him honestly. Tell him what is going on in your life. Tell him what frightens you. Tell him what you need. Ask him to show you who he is. Open one of the Gospels. Read a little at a time. Watch Jesus. Listen to him. Get to know him.

Throughout August we’ve been reflecting on a vision for the future of the Divine Mercy Partnership. We’ve spoken about vision and strategy, about Alpha, children’s catechesis, family formation, welcoming new people and helping our parishes to grow. One thing I feel very sure about is that Alpha will become a regular part of parish life here. In my experience it is one of the best ways for people to go back to basics and ask some of life’s biggest questions, including perhaps the biggest of them all: Who is Jesus? Even if September isn’t the right time for you, perhaps make a decision that one day you will give it a go.

But none of these plans matter if Jesus is missing from the centre of everything we are trying to build. We could fill every seat in our churches. We could have the best programmes in the diocese. We could have healthy finances and busy parish halls. But if people are not meeting Jesus Christ, then we have missed the point.

The Church exists for one reason only: to bring people to Jesus.

Beneath everything else we do as Catholics is this simple truth. Jesus Christ is alive. He loves you. He gave his life for you. He rose from the dead for you. He now reigns in glory, and he wants to save you and to know you.

Today he asks each one of us the same question he asked Peter:

“Who do you say that I am?”