INTRODUCTION
The main theme that runs through the three readings is that God is the Source of all authority. He shares the keys of His authority with elected civil rulers to serve in the political society (as depicted in the call of Eliakim in the first reading) and with the Pope in communion with other Church leaders for the spiritual needs of his people (as conferred by Jesus to Peter in the Gospel). However, whether in the political or in the religious terrain, God’s wish is that his salvation be made manifest for all humanity, ‘Jews as well as Gentiles’ (as indicated by Paul in the second reading).
FIRST READING: Isaiah 22:19-23
When we take close look at the first part of the book of prophet Isaiah especially from chapter thirteen through chapter twenty-three, we will observe that many passages are conglomeration of oracles pronounced against many nations. We equally observe that certain oracles were addressed to individuals like our passage of meditation today. In this chapter twenty-two, the Word of Yahweh was pronounced against Shebna who was recorded to be a proud and unfaithful royal official during the reign of king Hezekiah in the northern kingdom (Judah), and belonging to a party that played a role which favoured the alliance of Judah with Egypt seeking for their protection against Assyria (Isaiah 30-31). This suggested a lost of confidence in the protection of Yahweh. He equally attempted to immortalize himself by constructing his own tomb in a lofty place on the mountain (Isaiah 22:16) among the tombs of the kings. This is a purposeful elevation of himself to be the equal of the Davidic kings rather than being satisfied with his role a royal steward.
His arrogance was also seen as rivaling the arrogance of the kings of Assyria (Isaiah 10) and Babylon (Isaiah 14).
Today, the prophet Isaiah announces Yahweh’s plan to remove Shebna and to cede his responsibility to Eliakim: “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station.” The trusting of the royal key to Eliakim symbolizes his installation as the second in command to the king in King Hezekiah’s palace. It is equally a possession of a jurisdiction authority.This passage was interpreted by the hagiographers in reference to Christ, the promised Messiah to the house of David who holds the keys to the royal household of Israel. This evidently satisfies and fulfills the gospel message of today in which Christ offers to Peter “the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” prefigured in the royal kingdom of Judah. But Matthew depicted this scene as an affirmation of the divinity of Christ, the fulfilment of the prophesies of old as the only one who holds the keys to the kingdom (Revelation 1:18; 3:7; 22:16). The prophesy of Isaiah depicts a charismatic dimension of authority, projecting Yahweh as One who gives to his elect a leadership charisma.
SECOND READING: Romans 11:33-36
In our second reading Paul sings the praises of God whose unimaginable wisdom transcends human understanding. This is made visible in his plan which saw to the rejection of Jesus by the Jews so that through the few who were chosen from among them like Paul, his salvation will be announced to the Gentile world. The preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles and their eventual conversion fulfils the eternal plan of God that all men be saved. Paul sees this as a good greater than the election of the Israelites his people. Hence, the ancient promise of God to Abraham is fulfilled. That is why Paul exclaims, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments and how unsearchable His ways!”
GOSPEL: Matthew 16:13-17
Matthew places this Gospel at a very significant location to enable the readers to understand that the revelation of the identity of Christ is given to the whole human race.
Caesarea Philippi also known as ancient Paneas (a city founded by Philip the Tetrach and the brother of Herod the Great. He later named the city in honour of the roman emperor, Augustus Cesare from where the combination of his name and that of Cesare gave origin to the name of the city as Cesarea Philippi) was located near Mount Hermon north of the Sea of Galilee, the boundary and the place of the pagan Gate of Hades. It was in this area that the first king of Israel, Jeroboam (after the splitting of the nation into the Northern and Southern kingdoms) led the northern kingdom of Israel into idolatry. This was also the same place where the Greeks and Romans received revelations from the god Pan who was mentioned in classical writings as a “seer” or fortune teller and a giver of revelations.
Matthew purposely chose this location to reveal Christ as the Eternal Deity, the Son of the Living God (a contrast and replacement to the dead idols worshipped here) made manifest in the eternal plan of God to bring salvation to all men.
However, we recall that in the preceding chapters Jesus had been deeply immersed in teaching the crowd both in the open and in the Temple and synagogues. He had equally performed many miracles. But today, He chose to confirm whether the people including his close followers really know his real identity. It is a thought provoking passage that reveals many confused identities attributed to him.
In this school of Cesarea Philippi, Jesus addressed a question to his disciples seeking to know the public opinion about him as well as their personal opinion.
“WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I, THE SON OF MAN, AM?” (v. 13b). The disciples did not waste time in giving chorus answers concerning the public opinion about Jesus. They said;“Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Now the response of the public told through the voice of the disciples shows that till that point Jesus was simply a prophet and nothing more. The mention of John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah is simply a way of equating Jesus to the greatest of the prophets in the history the people. In other words, they were, according to their lights, paying him a great compliment and setting him in a high place. For these men (including Jesus seen as a great prophet) were believed to preceed the Anointed One yet to be revealed.
“BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”
Here Jesus asked his disciples the same question he asked them about the public opinion of his identity and there seemed to be silence everywhere. The choral voices quickly disappeared to what now seem to be a surprise test. Probably Jesus was not so much disappointed with the public opinion. The people could believe whatever they want about him, but certainly He was so much concerned about the response of his disciples who have been with him for long and to who He will hand on his work. Hence, what they think of him is critical.
It was at the heart of this sudden silence that Simon spoke up: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The response of Simon did not just affirm the messianic identity of Jesus (Christos-the anointed one sent for the liberation of the people) but it equally went a step further to pronounce the divinity of Christ: “The Son of the Living God”. The adjective ‘Living’ plays a very significant role in the narrative in the sense that it contrasts with the lifeless idols in pagan territories such as Caesarea Philippi.
Jesus did not hesitate to reward Simon’s answer with two things that are very symbolic:
1. ‘You are Peter (Cephas-rock) and on this “rock” I will build my Church.’ This was followed by a promise: “the gate of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus gave Simon another name-Peter. This signifies a change of identity meant to enable him take up the burden of a new responsibility. The new name, the new identity is confirmed by Jesus’ affirmation that Peter’s pronouncement was not carnal but divine. In other words he had an experience of the divine and a confirmation of his legitimacy to undertake Jesus’ task;
2. “I will give you the “keys” of the kingdom of heaven.” This was also accompanied with a promise: “whatever you bound on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The wording has its roots in Isaiah 22:22 as we learned from the first reading, “I will place on (Eliakim’s) shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.” In his role as gatekeeper, Peter will open the gates for three thousand people at Pentecost (Acts 2). Although he will initially resist opening the gates to Gentiles, but God will persuade him to admit the Gentile Centurion (Acts 10), and Peter will become the spokesperson to the Council of Jerusalem to keep the gates open to Gentiles (Acts 15).
While the ROCK signifies that the Church built under the leadership of Peter (and his successors, the popes) is indestructible, the KEY signifies her divine origin and mediation between men and God respectively.
Jesus further assures that the gates of Hades will not prevail against his Church. Hades refers to the abode of the dead, but it is also used metaphorically in reference to what is demonic. Jesus knew that the Church will have to endure horrible oppositions and persecutions through the powers of evil, but it will surely prevail in the end.
The last part of this passage is of key importance: ‘Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.’
The revelation of the identity of Jesus in the gospels technically known as the ‘messianic secret’ followed a gradual process. Matthew tells his audience today that though the true identity of Jesus was revealed (the Christ, the Son of the Living God) but then the world did not yet understand it, and even his disciples were not yet sure of it. Yes they understood that Jesus is the Christ, but their understanding of his Messiahship was still the popular conventional political messiah meant to liberate them from external forces especially from the roman empire.
Jesus knew that the cross awaits him-a great scandal for his disciples and the people, and which will contradict the idea of the Messiah they had in mind. Thus he insisted that his identity be kept secret till the light of the resurrection shines over them; nothing could reveal this secret except the resurrection.
LIFE MESSAGE
WHO IS CHRIST FOR US?
It may not be out of place to say that the majority us Christians have not yet known Christ. Many are still Christians just by baptism and not by personal encounter with Christ. The knowledge of Jesus as Lord and personal Savior should become a living, personal experience for each Christian. It is not enough to attend masses and group prayers and follow ones regular methodology of prayer. Jesus’ identity as the Christ and the Son of the Living God should be imprinted in our lives. We need to ask for the grace of conversion, a metanioa that will set us free from a confused identity of Jesus of the public opinion; the Jesus seen as John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. It is unfortunate that today, the image many Christians have of Jesus is the one they derive from the media world, celebrities and from political groups, and that is why many are not convinced of their faith. Let us know that the confused identity of Jesus tantamounts confused identity of a Christian. A Christian who does not have a clear image of Jesus will never testify Jesus with his or her life.
Jesus is asking us today: ‘Please who am I to you John, Michael, Mary…? And for all these years I have been with you, who do you take me for? Let’s meditate on this today.
DO WE TRULY BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH?
For those who have lost faith in the Church, the Gospel reassures us today that the Church is still Christ’s. He knew that the gates of Hades exist. He knew that his Church will definitely face tough moments. He knew that the members of this Church will sometimes not be convinced of him like the rest of the disciples who kept quiet over the question, “who do you say I am?” But today He pledges his presence in his Church once again. For those who do not believe (non Catholics and confused Catholics) in the perpetual succession of Peter by the popes and argue that there is nothing in Jesus’ promise that Peter will be succeeded forget that rock as an existential reality by its nature suggests perpetuity and timelessness. That’s why Jesus chose the image of the rock. The rocks are, and they’re there to stay. We are therefore invited to renew our faith in the Church that has come to stay and to pray for her to always be true to her vocation in the human society and in her relationship with Christ her Groom irrespective of continuous widening of the gates of Hades.
PRAYER
O God who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, despite the uncertainties of this present world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. And may the keys you handed to Peter never get lost nor rusted, so that through her ministry of succession under the aegis of the Supreme Pontiff, your Church may continue to unlock the doors of salvation to all. Amen.
PAX VOBIS!
