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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  God gives us the keys to the Kingdom

by Fr. Richard C. Macey special to The Michigan Catholic
Published August 15, 2008

First Reading: Isaiah 22:19-23

The text makes clear that the officeholder is directly responsible to God for the performance of his duties. Here, Shebna is the master of the palace. He is being disciplined by God after preparing an elaborate tomb for himself and riding in chariots to demonstrate his authority over the people. His arrogance leads to his demotion, since his actions represented the reason for the downfall of the nation and the exile of the people. The leaders did not acknowledge the authority of God over them and their responsibility for the well-being of the people who are in their care. Shebna appears in Isaiah 36:3 and its parallel, 2 Kings 18:37, as secretary and Eliakim as master of the palace. The key was not only the instrument for securing and locking the palace. It also demonstrated responsibility within the household.

When I was growing up, our neighbor held the key to our house – just one neighbor. That neighbor was someone who was trusted by my parents. We socialized with their family when their children and grandchildren came to visit them. We also had the key to their home, and were given the task of making sure that their cat was taken care of when they were away. My brother and I would put out food and water for the cat, and we considered it an honor that we would be given this role. We never played any Halloween "tricks" on our neighbors, and we often played on their lawn. I know that sometimes we were a burden. (Our nicknames were "Big Poison" and "Little Poison"!) But we watched over their house and reported anything suspicious. Holding a key to their home was more than just being a place for the spare key in case they were locked out. It bound us together.

Second Reading: Romans 11:33-36

The section of chapters 9 through 11 in the Letter to the Romans begins with addressing separately the people of Israel and the Gentiles, then celebrating God's call and His great mercy for everyone. Sin is the great equalizer, since all have sinned. But Paul also acclaims the mercy and wisdom of God to use even His rejection by Israel as an invitation to salvation for a wider number of people. The will of God is not thwarted. Human transgression reveals the greater plan of God. Paul quotes from Isaiah 40:13 and uses a Greek form of, or at least an allusion to, Job 41:3. It demonstrates that God has been and is sovereign.

Paul appears to be using the language and imagery of wisdom literature in this passage. Wisdom literature recognized the handiwork of God in creation. Everything was a reminder of God's presence. He concludes the passage with a doxology, a praise of God. It is the biblical way of giving thanks. The expression demonstrates the belief in God as the source, the agent and the goal of everything: "from … through … for … ."

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

Even the details of biblical narrative are important in interpretation, such as giving the location of an event. Caesarea Philippi was named after the emperor and Philip, the son of Herod the Great. It had long been honored as a sanctuary for the gods. It is one of the sources of fresh water, which flows into the Sea of Galilee. It is the beginning of the foothills of Mount Hermon, the Mount Olympus of the Canaanites. An underground stream, formed by the melting snows of Mount Hermon, emerges from the base of a sheer rock face.

Jesus commissions Peter, who has expressed his faith in Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." Immediately after the commission, Jesus will predict His Passion and Death in Jerusalem. Until His disciples have witnessed that event, Jesus did not permit them to begin proclaiming Him. Jesus also will reprimand Peter, whom He has just acknowledged. Peter has an important role, but it is always as a follower, a disciple, of Jesus Christ.

Jesus gives one of His disciples a new name. The change of name indicates a new identity in life, e.g., entering religious life or oftentimes a woman who is married. Simon (Peter) is given the name Peter, a Greek word for "rock." He is also called by the Hebrew name for "rock," Kephas, in other biblical texts, e.g., John 1:42, 1 Corinthians 1:12, Galatians 1:18, etc. Jesus uses the image of the rock face of the locality and the refreshing water coming from it to be symbolic of the profession of faith of Peter. He continues with the rock imagery by declaring that he will be a foundation stone, the "rock (on which) I will build my Church." The great Temple of Jerusalem was built upon a rock crown of the Temple Mount. That rock is still impressively the central focus for the Dome of Omar which covers it today. Thus, Jesus used an image which had a wide range of meaning to describe the role and the profession of faith of Peter.

The tie to the first reading is the "keys to the kingdom of heaven." The role of Peter is to be the gatekeeper and also the manager of the Kingdom. His subsequent failures and reinstatement by Jesus are part of the context of his role.

The terms "binding" and "loosing" are used in rabbinic documents to describe the responsibility of faithfully interpreting the Law. It includes the role of teaching. It can also mean making doctrinal declarations. The role of Peter is one of service, not just to be restrictive. He is to recognize that the source of his insights and pronouncements come from "my heavenly Father." Later, Jesus will condemn the scribes and Pharisees because they would "lock the Kingdom of Heaven before human beings … (and not) allow entrance to those trying to enter" (Matthew 23:13). Since the Gospel was written after the death of Peter and is within the context of mentioning "the Church," it is clear that this was intended as more than just a personal directive, which was given to Peter alone.

The Scriptures are not written for a select group within the People of God. So these passages are not written just for those who hold ecclesiastical office. And a key isn't much good unless you know what it unlocks. Remaining faithful to Christ reminds us of the role which each of us shares in inviting and preparing others into the presence and life of God.

Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.