21/08/2011 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Season - Year A
1Reading Is 22,19-23 Psalm 137 2Reading Rom 11,33-36 Gospel Mt 16,13-20
The prophet Isaiah speaks of a change, willed by God, between the officials of
the queen of Ezechiah. Sebna, the butler, was removed and his power was give to
Eliakim. That power was called "the key", the key that opens and that
closes. No body would have another key like it: it's a sole power over all the house,
or, better, for "the house of David", that is for all the people. The
one who receives this key is also compared to a pole fixed in the ground, unmoveable.
Listening to the Gospel, we understand that the fact as said by the prophet is a
prophecy of what was to happen around Caesarea Philippi, the city where Jesus went
with his disciples. This city, newly founded, is to be found at the extreme north
of Palestine, a place which borders with the pagan peoples, famous for it's temples
which attracted pilgrims to adore divinities against which the prophet Elijah turned
again in his times. One of those temples was dedicated to the emperor of Roma,
quelle divinità contro le quali a suo tempo si era scagliato il profeta Elia. Uno
di quei templi era dedicato addirittura all'imperatore di Roma: Augustus Caesar,
a big blow in face of the around Jews. Jesus was not afraid to go to that region,
the sources of the waters of the river Jordan, which has a great significance for
the story of the people and it's salvation. In this place, which it is very difficult
to live the faith of Abraham, Jesus takes his disciples. And here he asks them to
know to what point his person is marked in their lives.
"who says people is the Son of Man?", this is the first question. The
disciples were to know the people and what was in the depth of their heart and what
kind of relationship they had with him. From this they could conclude if they can
be in comunion with them. All the disciples knew how to answer, because all hear
people's gossip. Jesus was held as one of the prophets raised from the dead. People
had good feeling about Jesus, but they did'nt understand him. If he is one of the
prophets, raised, one knew everything about him and would have said nothing new.
Those who believe so, don't look for Jesus to learn or to direct differently their
way of life: they know that they are so and what have the prophets said and did,
therefore they believe they know enough Jesus.
"But you, who do you say I am?". It is the second question, more direct.
Only one answers, Simon, the fisherman. His answer is a novelty: "The Son of
the Living God"! Jesus understands that such an answer cannot be the conclusion
of some reasoning, but a gift of God, who wants to make known to men his Son. Jesus
expresses his joy and wonder for this word of Simon. This one knows him truely,
and upon that Word that shows his divinity can build the new people, the one who
was to carry to fulfillment the mission trusted to the people of Israel, a mission
which was never realized because of the unfaithfulness of the leaders. Jesus, therefore,
passes on the key of the Kingdom of God from the people of Israel unto the new people,
that he, as a building, lays down on the rock of the true faith. The keys are given
to the 'butler' of this new building, so that he can open and close: God himself
would be bound to accept or sanction what this one decides.
Simon receives from Jesus a new name, a name added to the faith he professed infront
of all, the faith which will be the sure foundaion for the believers. This is not
yet the moment to spread to all the knowledge of Jesus that Peter had manifested.
Jesus needed to explain the meaning of the title "Son of God" by which
he defined himself, eitherwise he might be misunderstood. "Son of Man"
is a title that the prophet Daniel gave to the one who shall reign over all the
peoples, but not before this pass from tribulation.
Meanwhile, we don't admire the faith of Peter in as much Jesus himself, who passing
from death shall be exalted in the resurection. Admiring this mystery, we could
say with st. Paul: "What depthness of richness, of wisdom and of knowledge
of God!...who has ever been his counsellor?...to Him glory for ever."