Every three years on the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear Matthew’s gospel where Jesus gives Peter the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 16:13-20), and a parallel passage from Isaiah where the key of the House of David is given to Eliakim (Isaiah 22:19-23). As a catechist for OCIA, I often refer to these Scripture readings to explain where the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church gets her authority.
Our society today has a problem with authority, especially the authority of the Catholic Church. Convincing people, including Catholics, to accept the magisterial authority of the Church is critical when evangelizing, as evidenced by how many Catholics disagree with some teachings, such as contraception and the right to life.
The passage in Isaiah shows the hierarchal authority in the House of David. David was anointed King over the tribe of Judah, from which Jesus would descend. In the Davidic kingdom was an office called the master of the palace who governs the day to day operation. The office might be analogous to a Prime Minister. England has a king, but the Prime Minister heads the government.
In the passage from Isaiah, Shebna was removed from the office and replaced by Eliakim, who was given authority over the House of David. The Lord placed the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder saying when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, saying whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose will be loosed in heaven.
There is no doubt that Jesus was giving Peter authority over His Church, much like parents might give a babysitter authority over their children in their absence. Jesus knew he could not leave his Church orphaned after His ascension and before the His second coming. He continued the ministerial priesthood, headed by Peter, to offer His sacrifice on the altar in order that we may participate by eating His flesh and drinking His blood as He commanded. As in the Old Covenant Paschal sacrifice, the offering is not complete until the lamb is consumed. The once and for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ is made present on the altar in the Holy Eucharist and we participate in that sacrifice when we consume the Lamb of God.
This authority of the Church is later extended in Matt 18:15-20 when Jesus addresses a situation where a brother refuses to listen. In effect, He says if all else fails, take the dispute to the Church, and if the brother even refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as a Gentile or tax collector. He then says, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” How can anyone read Matthew’s gospel and not believe Jesus established an authoritative Church? And if that is not enough, “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)
Isaiah 22:19-23
19 I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station. 20 In that day I will call my servant Eli′akim the son of Hilki′ah, 21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house.
Matthew 16-13-20
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare′a Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli′jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”[a] 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”[b] 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter,[c] and on this rock[d] I will build my church, and the powers of death[e] shall not prevail against it.[f] 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,[g] and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Matthew 18:15-20
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.[i] 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
