highly technological means to open a locked door, an old fashioned set of

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1 Homily for the 21 st Sunday in OT, Year A 2017: (Is 22:15, 19-23; Mt 16:13-20 Since doors and locks can now be opened by an electronic keypad, by fingerprint identification and retinal recognition, to name but a few highly technological means to open a locked door, an old fashioned set of keys may not longer seem to be a symbol of power and authority. However, during the time of Davidic monarchy in Ancient Israel, the man who held the keys to the kingdom of David was understood to be a man of great importance and tremendous authority. He was known in Hebrew as the Al Hay Biyat, or the one who stood over the household. This man was the chief vizier or prime minister of the Kingdom of David. While the king ruled as the divinely appointed leader of the People of God, the Al Hay Biyat was given the administrative rule of the kingdom, making binding decisions that effected the entire nation and he possessed a legal authority that was equal to that of the king. As a sign of his authority and office, the Al Hay Biyat was given the keys to the city of David, holding them upon his shoulder for all to see that they would recognize that this man had been chosen by the king to govern in his name and with his authority.

2 The Prophet Isaiah recounts when a man named Eliakim was chosen by God to become the new Al Hay Biyat of the Kingdom of David, promising that this position of honour and authority would be passed down through his family, making it a hereditary office of leadership that would see power and authority be passed down through the ages. Interestingly, Isaiah tells us that Eliakim would also be known as an abba or father to the People of Israel, showing that he was to be more of a loving father to the Kingdom than an administrative functionary. When the Kingdom of David was destroyed by the Babylonians in the 6 th century BC, the office of the Al Hay Biyat ceased and awaited its revival when a son of David would once again rule over the People of Israel. Throughout the Gospel of St Matthew, we discover that one of the essential messages that he wishes to convey is that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of David and the long awaited king that was prophesied to return to re-establish the kingdom of his father David. If then Jesus is the new king of the Kingdom of Israel, a kingdom that was to encompass every tribe, language, nation and people, then He would also seek to establish

3 his own Al Hay Biyat, his own abba who would rule over his household with an authority equal to His own. When Jesus lead the 12 Apostles to a rocky mountain overlooking the Roman city of Caesarea Philippi, He established for all time His Al Hay Biyat, His prime minister, the holy father he would set over His household. That Jesus choose to make St Peter the first Pope, the first holy father to reign over the Household of God, on a rocky mountain overlooking a Roman city was also an act of defiance and a challenge to the ruling power of the day. Jesus was revealing to the world that He had chosen a leader to continue His work of salvation, standing in opposition to any political or religious power that looked to proclaim themselves to be ruler and god of this world, as Caesar did, when Jesus Christ is the only true King and Lord of our world and all creation. In giving Simon a new name, Peter, meaning Rock, He gave him a new identity and office of leadership. He was to be the Lord s Vicar here on earth, to rule in His place once He ascended into Heaven. By saying that He was to give St Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, He was showing that St Peter s decisions would have a binding effect on all of

4 God s people. In giving Him these keys, he also showed that the power and authority that St Peter received would not end when he died, but would be passed onto the next man who was chosen to be the new holy father and shepherd of God s people. St Peter chose St Linus to take his place as the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Universal Church, then St Linus chose St Cletus and he chose St Clement, forming an unbroken line of succession that most recently saw the cardinals of our Church choose Jorge Maria Bergoglio as the 266 th Pope of the Holy Church of God. As Catholic Christians, we have a responsibility and obligation to continually pray for and support the man who reigns as the Vicar of Christ here on earth. The Pope has been given an office that carries with it the full weight of Our Lord s Cross. The Keys which he symbolically holds up his shoulder will open the doors to the Heavenly Kingdom for many but also lock them to those who deny Jesus Christ, refuse to live as His Disciples and reject the teachings of Our Church. The Pope has the ability to inspire the world to choose Jesus Christ as our one and only king and his words, always under the utmost scrutiny, have the ability to

5 strengthen His brethren, helping us to trust in God in times are dark and uncertain. Throughout the ages, the Popes have asked first and foremost that the People of God pray for them, so that as Pope Benedict XVI once said pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves. The more we pray for the one St. Catherine of Siena called the sweet Christ here on earth, the more we will fortify our Pope with spiritual nourishment to continue leading us, God s Holy People, while reminding us of our obligation to be faithful to The Lord in being obedient to His Vicar here on earth, most especially when we struggle to do so. If we are not sure how to pray for the Pope, the following is a brief and easy to learn prayer that we can offer for our Holy Father on a daily basis: Let us pray for your sovereign Pontiff Francis. That the Lord preserve him and give him life and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies. Amen.