Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Twenty First Sunday of the Year, A – August 27, 2017

Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Responsorial Psalm Ps 137:1-3,6,8; 

Rom 11:33-36 & Gospel Matthew 16:18.

Theme: The Church’s Apostolic Foundation & Divine Endorsement! 

Introduction

Friends in Christ, today we are exposed to the apostolic foundations of the Church and her divine endorsement. Perhaps many Catholics do not know who they are, what they represent or where they come from in terms of committed-membership to the Church. Our Sunday liturgy clears our doubts concerning the divine beginnings of the Church and the abiding presence of Christ in the Church he established.  For the records, Christ founded the Church on Pentecost Sunday in 33 AD. By giving the keys of the kingdom to St. Peter as we heard in the gospel (Matthew 16:18), Jesus reassures us of his divine presence in the Church.

The message of the gospel is amplified in the first reading (Isaiah 22:19-23) where the Lord uproots Shebna, the master of the palace and appoints Eliakim son of Hilkiah giving him authority to be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the house of Judah. To authenticate this appointment, the Lord gave Eliakim the key of the House of David while stressing that should he open, no one should close; should he close, no one should open. The prophesy that “he will become a throne of glory for his father’s house” is fulfilled in Jesus who comes from the Davidic dynasty. What is more, while God places the key on the shoulder of Eliakim, Jesus it is who gives the keys of the kingdom to Peter. This is to further entrench the Church as enjoying divine authority.

With this in mind, we shall reflect on the readings in the light of the theme: “The Church’s Apostolic Foundation and Divine Endorsement.” To achieve this, we shall take a look at the four marks of the Catholic Church.

The Four Marks of the Church

The penny catechism teaches that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. We shall briefly look at the theological implication of this theological submission:                             

1. The Church is One: The Church is one because its founder is one. This oneness is expressed in liturgical form through common prayers and an expression of the unity of faith. The scriptures attests to this oneness: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).                                      

2. The Church is Holy: The Church is holy because the Lord who founded it is holy. This is why the bible says: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15). He also left the Church with seven sacraments (baptism, Holy Eucharist, confirmation, confession, anointing of the sick, matrimony and Holy Orders) as means of attaining holiness.                       

3. The Church is Catholic: The Church is Catholic because it spreads throughout the world. Catholic means universal - it means that the Church does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, nationality or gender. Her mission is both domestic and universal in character hence mission ad intra and mission ad extra. That the Church is Catholic means she is a mother that accommodates all her children throughout the world irrespective of race, gender or social standing.

4. The Church is Apostolic: The Church is founded on the apostles (Cf. Matthew 18:18; 16:18). The apostolicity of the Church spans through 2000 years - from St. Peter to the current Pope Francis through the bishops who are the direct successors of the apostles, only the Catholic Church has maintained an unbroken apostolic succession. This is why the Church enjoys divine credibility based on the divine mandate given to her by Christ to forge ahead as an institution geared towards the salvation of souls. The salvation of souls is the supreme law – salus animarum suprema lex.                

The theological implication of the four marks of the Church means that Catholics all over the world can access their faith based on these theological truths.

The Power to Forgive and Sanction

Our gospel (Matthew 16:18) reminds us about the power Christ gave his Church to forgive sins. Many people have criticized the Catholic Church about the sacrament of reconciliation claiming that a priest has no power to forgive sins. Well, today, we hear Jesus himself giving the Church’s ministers the divine authority to bind or loose – he further notes that whatever the Church does concerning binding or losing is approved in heaven. What could be truer?  

This teaching is predicated on Christ building the Church on a rock and handing the keys of the kingdom to Peter. The implication is that any foundation made on a rock is solid and stands the test of time as scriptures attest (Matthew 7:24-27). What this means is that since the Church is divinely established on Christ the rock, no human power can destroy it. Perhaps you have heard the assertion that “the Church is like a rock, if you fight her, she will crush you and if she fights you, she will crush you” – whichever way it goes, the Church is always a winner not because of her human-handlers but because she is divinely instituted.

This is far from triumphalism or clericalism. As it were, it is a call to respect the divine authority of the Church and always seek her counsel since she is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33). Sadly, we see Christians fighting dirty because they have been sanctioned by the Church for some scandals they committed. If what is sanctioned here is approved in heaven, would it not amount to fighting God if anyone engages the Church head-on with the aim of bringing her to disrepute?

Take-Home Lessons

1. Our liturgy exhorts us to know that all authority comes from God who appoints and removes for the good of either the individual or the community as in the case of Shebna.

2. As Catholics, we are called to know who we are, what we represent or where we come from in terms of committed-membership to the Church.

3. We are reminded that our Church was not established by any human being but by Jesus himself which calls for developing a personal relationship with him whom Peter professed as the Christ.

4. Peter’s profession of faith on behalf of the apostles also calls us to build our faith personally as individuals and collectively as a Church.

5. While the question of who Jesus is, is directed to each and every one of us, it equally reminds us that our perception of God, either good or bad, affects our relationship with him.

6. We are called to scan our faith on the four marks of the Church since Christianity today is divided along doctrinal lines. 

7. Catholics must not relax in praying for the Church and her leaders simply because she enjoys divine endorsement.

8. Those fighting the Church must be reminded that it will not augur well with them since they are fighting God yet if they reform and see the Church as a forgiving mother, an erstwhile sanction would give way to forgiveness, reconciliation and salvation.

9. Ministers of the Word and Sacrament must make it a constant care to preach about the most neglected sacrament in the lives of many Catholics namely, the sacrament of reconciliation while urging all to embrace the tribunal of God’s unfathomable mercy and forgiveness.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember:

ü  Christ founded the Church on Pentecost in 33 AD, gave the keys to Peter (Matthew 16:18) and reassures us of his divine presence in the Church.

ü  The prophesy that Eliakim “will become a throne of glory for his father’s house” is fulfilled in Jesus who comes from the Davidic dynasty.

ü  While God places the key on the shoulder of Eliakim, Jesus it is who gives the keys of the kingdom to Peter.

ü  Rather than being judgmental or condemnatory, let us pray for the conversion of those who are out of the fold.

ü  The oneness of the Church is expressed in liturgical form through common prayers and an expression of the unity of faith.

ü  The Church is holy because the Lord who founded it is holy: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15).

ü  The Church is Catholic because it spreads throughout the world, she does not discriminate against anyone, she is a mother that accommodates all her children throughout the world irrespective of race, gender or social standing and because her mission is ad intra and ad extra.

ü  The Church is apostolic because it is founded on the apostles (Cf. Matthew 18:18; 16:18), she enjoys unbroken apostolic succession and because of the divine credibility she has to forge ahead towards the salvation of souls.                 

Conclusion

Friends in Christ, our liturgy has cleared our doubts concerning the divine beginnings of the Catholic Church and the abiding presence of Christ in the Church he established. The onus lies on us, contemporary disciples, to guard the Church against wolves. This requires the profession of faith like Peter’s and a committed spiritual life as lived by the apostles.  May the Holy Spirit always help us to realize that the Church enjoys apostolic blessings and divine endorsement. May that realization help us to live worthy lives and attain eternal life. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead!