As a great and good teacher, Jesus used a variety of ways to communicate his vision of the Kingdom of God to his disciples. Sometimes he spoke in parables, sometimes he spoke in "Beatitudes", Sometimes he asked questions for reflections, as in today's Gospel passage from Luke He asked two contrasting questions: "Who do the crowds say I am?" and then, who do you say I am?" The two questions may be understood as indirectly suggesting to the disciples that they should be aware of what the "crowds" were saying and that their idea of who Jesus was should be different from the opinion of the crowds. And in the answer which Peter gave the disciples rose to the test and answered, "The Christ of God." In asking the questions Jesus was not looking for mere information: he was engaged in teaching and forming his disciples.

In his Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and be Glad) #66, Pope Francis teaches us to "listen to Jesus with all the love and respect that the Master deserves." That means listening to Jesus, no matter what style of teaching he is using, and to listen to all that he says, no matter how challenging it may be, not picking and choosing only what pleases us.