Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Father Ed Witt, SJ
Homily from the Televised Mass, NewsCenter1
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 27, 2023

I have in my hand two sets of keys. One set are the church keys – a sign of my authority and access to the various rooms and buildings around the church. It can open the confessional where I can bind or loose sins. Usually I’m a nice guy so I loose sins and forgive sins. One day, these keys are going to be passed on to another pastor. I’m not going to be here forever. 

And then I have this set of keys. These are my car keys. Well, it’s not my car, it’s the Jesuits car and one day I’ll pass this on to another Jesuit. So, the keys will be exchanged.

And that’s what we have in today’s reading.  We have an exchange of keys which symbolize authority. First reading, the keys are passed on from Shebna to Eliakim because Shebna has failed in his leadership. In the Gospel, the keys, the symbol of authority and power, are transferred to Peter by the Lord. The keys are transferred, exchanged from Scribes and Pharisees, and are given to Peter. 

So, in today’s Gospel, which I want to focus on very briefly, we see grace, above all, operating in Peter’s heart as he comes to realize that Jesus is the Son of God. When we reflect on our own lives, we can certainly perhaps pinpoint similar moments when God makes clear to us deep truths that we were once unable to grasp. In the words of the Scripture, flesh and blood has not revealed this to us but the Heavenly Father. In other words, our faith is a gift. It is infused into our souls by Christ himself. 

We all have loved ones, I know I do, who either don’t believe or don’t practice their faith or have questions or doubts. It’s tempting to become frustrated and turn away from them. But notice in the Gospel how Jesus never cuts off his disciples as they work through their difficulties and doubts and questions. He lovingly guides and questions them. His accompaniment opens their hearts. This is what Jesus did with Peter, allowing Peter to receive the gift of faith. To proclaim Jesus as Lord and become the foundation upon which the Church will be built. At first, he was very shaky, wasn’t he? 

So never cease to pray for your loved ones so that one day Christ’s true identity will be revealed to them, and the Faith made clear and his love made clear in their lives.