A powerful question we must answer

Some years ago I was invited to a home of a very nice family. They lived somewhere outside of the Archdiocese of Mobile, so you do not know them. Their home was beautiful. It was decorated in a rustic American style. The lady of the house took pride in how she had decorated her home and it was obvious that she had a talent for decorating a home.
There was a fireplace in the den and over the firewall hung an impressive and large photo. The picture looked to be about 100 years old. It had an impressive frame around it.
Supposing that the picture was of a family relative, I asked the lady who was the person in the picture. She told me that she had no idea who it was! She had seen the photo in a shop and thought that it would be perfect for the wall above her fireplace, so she bought it and hung it there. She was correct. The picture looked great in her den, but it struck me odd that she would prominently display a picture of someone she did not know. It reminded me of the old pictures of people one sees hanging on the walls of a Cracker Barrel restaurant.
But it got me to thinking. In our homes we may have a picture of Jesus, or perhaps a crucifix, or a statue. At least I hope we do. Perhaps we also might wear a cross on jewelry on a chain or bracelet. 
But do we know who He is, or do we have these items or wear this jewelry more because it looks good? Who do we say He is?
That was the question which Jesus asked the Apostles one day: “Who do people say that I am?” the Apostles gave Jesus many answers of what they had heard about Him, but Peter finally answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Each of us must answer that question. There is no escaping the question. Even not to answer it, is to answer it. The question is placed before us no more powerfully than at Easter. Who do we say that Jesus is?
Is He a wise man who lived 2,000 years ago and did some nice things?
Is He God but so far above the heavens that He does not know what I am going through?
Is He God who knows me but what He said is too idealistic for me to live that way?
Is He God who knows me better than I know myself and whose wisdom is the only way to live in order to have purpose, meaning, peace of mind and heart, and eternal life?
We know that God will judge us on the last day, but we judge God here and now. 
We judge if He is truly Lord of all and that He rose from the dead. We judge if He is worth following even when it is challenging. We judge if He is worth committing our lives to. We judge if we believe that the tomb is empty, that the Lord is risen, that we are called to eternal life. If we truly believe in the resurrection and that we are called to live for all eternity, it changes the way we live. Otherwise, we do not know Him. Jesus is like that picture hanging on the wall of that den that no one knows who He is.
If we intend to follow Him, then we must know Him. How do we get to know Him? We get to know Him by reading the word of God in scripture, receiving the sacraments, speaking with Him in prayer and listening to Him — by listening to that small voice inside of us that prompts us to trust God, to do good and to care for our neighbor. 
Jesus always takes the initiative. “It was not you who chose me it was I who chose you.” Jesus always seeks us out like lost sheep. He never gives up on us. He calls for us to believe that His power and love is more powerful than anything, even death itself.