Greetings on this the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Readings: Acts 12:1-11; Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19
Summary
Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (MT 16:128-19).”
Clavis ordinis – “the key-power of the Church.” Tertullian, De Pudicitia, Chapter XXI. —-Of the Difference Between Discipline and Power, and of the Power of the Keys. It is a multifaceted argument in a complex setting. Packed within the retort is the centerpiece of forgiveness (as imperative and as power).
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained (Jn 20:23).
Reflection
My Sunday reflection is late – even posted in the early morning of Monday. Therefore brief. In addition, in light of the massive, excessively physical, and heartless deportations, I will remind the Church of this fact.
Hell Inures and Imprisons
- Hell is a place of making injury and self-harm.
- Hell is a place of making imprisonment and self-imprisonment.
Heaven Binds wounds and Frees man from Sin
- Heaven is a place of binding up the wounds made to us by others and by ourselves, #1 above.
- Heaven is a place of freedom from imprisonment and addictions, #2 above.
Hell will not prevail. Moreover hell is under attack by the holiness of the Church.
Primer on Traditional Jewish Understanding of ‘to Bind’ and ‘to Loosen’ and the divergence made in the Gospel of John: https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3307-binding-and-loosing
Personal Reflection
The duty of presiding not imperially, but ministerially (Tertullian).
Tend the flock of God in your midst, [overseeing] not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock (1 PTR 5:2-3).
We focus way too much on the juridical powers and responsibilities. It leaves us to be seduced by authoritarians. We are enamored with Law and Order. We should be focused on binding wounds and freeing people from the thousand forms of slavery and addiction.
Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062925-Mass.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry