This Sermon is prepared by
Rev.Fr.Peter Jayakanthan sss
Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
Corpus Christi Catholic Church,
Houston, Texas, US
21st Sunday of Ordinary Time-Keys…. Passwords of Faith App! Rock…our home Page!Is22:19-23; Rom 11:33-36; Mt16:13-20Dear Sisters, Brothers and Children, We thank with Holy Father Francis for his fruitful Pilgrimage to South Korea. We shall also assure our prayers to Pope Francis whose nephew’s family had fatal car accident. We are called to strengthen and support one another in times struggle, pain and sadness as partakers of Eucharistic community. We shall continue to pray for peace solution to the violent and criminal acts happening in Iraq. We pray the protection of God from the Ebola virus and His power may eradicate this poisonous virus.Which is more in number in people’s life? Is it sibling; is it houses, is it cars, is it gadgets, is it headphones, is it sports goods or pets? Many said gadgets, some said headphones and few said pets. Finally the interviewer said, none of the above is more in our life. It is password we have and use more in our life. Password is the key to get into mail, to get into skype, to watch Netflix movies and many more. Some time we forget the correct password for proper program. We need to keep a track of it. Why do we use password? What is the use of having password? We cannot download an app without the proper password; it shows I am accountable and responsible for my choices, security and my life of faith. I have the authority to bind or to loose. The use of my technology and life will reveal whether I stand on strong rock or shaky land. Yes dear friends, we are witnessing a highly sophisticated and greatly influencing technology world. We were given passwords or keys for our life too. The readings of today offer us two rich symbols Key and Rock to explain and remind that uniqueness of responsible authority and the greatest gift of faith we possess. We need to understand the context of the scripture the situation of that time and the need of the audience at the time of writing. In the first reading we have reference to key. In ancient Israel possession of key referred to authority. The master of the palace was entrusted with key on his shoulder. It was placed on his shoulder because the keys were made of strong heavy wood. Wooden keys were in big shape like of baseball bat. Here we have an official called Shebna who was the master of the palace of King Hezekiah the son of late King Ahaz. Shebna who possessed the key as Master of the palace was constructing a tomb for himself on a rock at a high place. Tombs were constructed by noble and wealthy people to show to the world that their burial place will be lasting memory and reminder their greatness to the world. Prophet Isaiah confirms that key will be removed from Shebna and will be placed on the shoulder of Eliakim who will be the master of the palace and he will watch over and guard the kingdom in the place Shebna. The responsibility was rested on new shoulders. Eliakim was called to guard and watch closely with greater responsibility. In the gospel we have both key and rock are used by Jesus to Peter. The event takes place at Ceasera Philippi, Caesarea Philippi is situated about twenty miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the territory that had been ruled by Philip the tetrarch, a son of Herod the Great, from 4 BC until his death in 34 AD. He rebuilt the town of Paneas, naming it Caesarea in honor of the emperor, and Philippi (“of Philip”) to distinguish it from the seaport in Samaria that was also called Caesarea. That place was well known for worshipping pagan idols. This excess and pagan worship to the Greek god Pan. Pan God was a popular god of fertility, Jesus inquired about the disciples’ understanding of his Messiahship to confirm to apostles and acclaim to people that Messiah is the only true God. It was here that Peter acclaimed Jesus as the Messiah of the one true God. Here Jesus confirms the real authority and leadership of Church and His messianic ministry. Jesus tells them about their responsibility in guarding their faith. Key is in your hand. Matthew is writing this just after the second destruction of the Jerusalem temple this time by Roman Empire (66-70 AD). Matthew portrays to the community the real and true guarding authority of Church with Peter and Apostles as vicars of Christ. Christian community is being called here by the evangelist as Church. Jerusalem temple the dwelling place of God was being destroyed by human power but this Church is rock cannot be destroyed. You come into this community with the Baptism of Spirit; you have the key of responsibility to safeguard this faith. You have password to your faith, others cannot take away. You are the Rock (Kepa) and upon this rock (kepa) I will build my Church.” The Aramaic word kepa – meaning “rock” and transliterated into Greek as Kephas –is the name by which Peter is called in the Pauline letters (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:4; Galatians 1:18; 2:9, 11, 14) except in Galatians 2:7-8, where “Peter” is used. Petros (“Peter”) is likewise used in John 1:42. The presumed original Aramaic of Jesus’ statement would have been, in English, “When Jesus declared Peter to be the rock upon which the Church would be built, He was refereeing that their destruction of Jerusalem temple and broken idols of fertility god of pan and calling people to be part of this Christian community of rock. Binding and loosing were technical terms (asar, sera`) used by rabbis; when employed by the early church, these terms referred to the prerogative of the church to grant or to revoke membership in the community for reasons of unrepentant sinfulness. At the earliest level of gospel development, binding and loosing may have described the church’s right to grant or withhold baptism depending upon the initiate’s acceptance or rejection of the kerygma proclamation of the good news. Where do I stand, is it on this Church of rock? Do I possess the password or key of faith? Do I feel my responsibility in living this faith powerfully as a witness? Many fought, criticized and argued but Church is on Rock, stable and strong. When Holy Father Pope Francis was asked about how copes up with his popularity, he said I try to think of my sins and my mistakes instead of thinking I am someone important. Pope is a human being but he is successor of Peter, Vicar of Christ. We are followers of Jesus given the responsibility to carry on the torch of Christ. We receive this password of faith through our Baptism when we become body of Christ called to share the priestly, prophetic and kingly ministry of Jesus. Shall we possess our key or password and stand always on this rock-Amen. 
|
