The Non-AI Jesus

In this meditation, Fr. Leo Austin reflects on the call to holiness and the deeply personal nature of each Christian’s vocation, using the image of a “tailored suit” to describe how God lovingly designs each person’s path. Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, he meditates on Peter’s confession of Christ as the Messiah, urging us to move beyond superficial or “AI-like” knowledge of Jesus toward a lived, personal encounter where Christ becomes truly the love of our lives. He emphasizes that discipleship requires the crucifixion of ego—an inner martyrdom of pride and self-centeredness—more challenging than external persecution, but essential for spiritual growth. Through examples from saints, particularly the witness of Cardinal Francis-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who endured 13 years in a Vietnamese prison with unwavering faith. Fr. Leo highlights how purification, gratitude, and humility reveal Christ’s presence even in suffering. He warns against being distracted by self-absorption or worldly noise and encourages recognizing Christ’s closeness in prayer, the Eucharist, and daily life. Ultimately, he calls listeners to respond to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” with a heartfelt declaration of love, gratitude, and surrender, seeing Jesus as our best friend and the center of our vocation, aided by the intercession of St. Josemaria and the Blessed Virgin Mary.