HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR with REV. FR. JOHN MGBEAHURUIKE, SMMM

 HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR

with

REV. FR. JOHN MGBEAHURUIKE, SMMM

                                                    Theme: AUTHORITY IS FOR SERVICE 
                                                       21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A.
                                  Isaiah 22:19-23 - Psalm 138 - Romans 11:33-36 - Matthew 16:13-16

"Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God's permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God.
Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment upon himself. "(Rom 13:1-2)

"And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my Church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." (Mtt 16:18-19)

"After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' Yes, Lord,  he answered, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Take care of my lambs'....Take care of my sheep." (Jn 21:15-17)

The Oxford Dictionary defines Authority thus: As the power to give orders to people; The power or right to do something; The official permission to do something; Those or organization who have the power to make decisions or who have a particular area of responsibility in a country or a region; The power to influence people because they respect your knowledge or official position; Or a person with special knowledge.

In today's liturgy, God removed Shebna from power and replaced him with Eliakim. Shebna was removed because of his pride. Instead of serving the people under his care, he only sought to build a lasting monument for himself, while his people were in danger. He was full of himself and engulfed in self aggrandisement.
This was a disservice to humanity and God.
To correct the errors of Shebna, Eliakim was chosen to give the true service God has in mind for them.

In the Gospel, after Peter had revealed to Jesus' identity, Jesus conferred on him the authority to take care of His sheep, to govern His people, His Church.

The authority to govern the Church of Christ on earth was given to all the Apostles (Cf. Jn 20:21-23)' but Peter was made the head of the Apostolic College for it is to him that Jesus gave the keys to the Kingdom of God(Mtt 16:19). As Peter was the first among equal, so his representative, the Pope, the Vicar of Christ, is the head of the college of Bishops.

The Keys as Symbols:
The term "Keys" has been said to have a positive value and symbolises Knowledge.
Also, as an opening tool it is a symbol of Freedom; and it is a symbol of Privacy and Security for it is a closing  tool.
However, biblically speaking, the term "Keys"  has been used as a symbol of teaching Authority. The Roman Catholics believe that Jesus, the Son of David and hence the king of the new Davidic Kingdom, the Church, appoints the Peter, as the Church's primary teacher, an office  that will continue to have successors just like Eliakim's  position in the Old Testament Davidic kingdom.
Like Eliakim, Peter (with these keys) the first Bishop of Rome and his successors are entrusted with Christ's own teaching authority over the new house of David, the Church of God on earth. Both the first reading and the Gospel of today enlighten us on the above.

Dear friends in Christ, Jesus continues to teach us through St Peter and the rest of the Apostles, ably represented by the Pope and the Bishops in the world.
The questions before us today are:
(1) WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE AUTHORITY OR TALENT GOD HAS GIVEN US? IS IT FOR  SERVICE FOR THE COMMON GOOD, OR FOR  DISSERVICE- SELF AGGRANDISEMENT.
 (2) HOW TEACHABLE ARE WE WHEN IT COMES TO THE TEACHING OF CHRIST?
(3) HOW OBEDIENT ARE WE TO THE CONSTITUTED AUTHORITIES?

Lessons:
(a) God is the giver of Authority. He has the power to choose His leaders based on His wisdom, and on not human ability.
(b) Obedience to those in authority is obedience to God provided they stick to  the right thing.
(c) Authority is given for service, and not for selfish interests.
(d) Abuse of Powers brings punishment.
(d) Authorities should know that the time for reckoning awaits them.
(e) Every human power has an expiry date, but God' power lasts forever.
(f) Pride is a sin against God and therefore should be avoided.

Finally, may God, the giver of Authority make us humans be obey the constituted authorities.
We pray for the grace to live our lives well so that we may enter heaven at last. Amen!

God bless your family.
Happy Sunday!