Whatever You Bind on Earth Shall be Bound in Heaven

Radio New Jerusalem

Whatever You Bind
On Earth
Shall be Bound
In Heaven

June 29, 2008

The Solmenity of Saints Peter and Paul

By Philip D. Ropp

          In today’s gospel reading from Matthew chapter 16, Jesus poses a loaded question to his disciples: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" Their answer shows us that Jesus, to this point in his earthly ministry, has been a pretty mysterious figure. Some say he is John the Baptist, raised from the dead. Some say he is none other than the prophet Elijah, returned from heaven. Others say that he is Jeremiah or one of the other great prophets miraculously manifested within their midst. No one seems to really know what to make of him, but they are clearly willing to acknowledge that this Jesus is someone different. Someone beyond their comprehension: Someone holy and special. Even this expression, “Son of Man,” which is the most common term in the gospel that Jesus uses to describe himself, is loaded with deeper meaning. He does not say, “son of men,” denoting an earthly personage, but “Son of Man,” conveying the idea of a being who is of this earth yet from beyond the realm of this human existence. Someone in the flesh yet above its temptations: Someone surpassing human limitations in order to reach the full human potential. Man, the perfected creation, truly reflecting the image of his Creator. Man, the next generation, if you will.

          So far, Matthew has told us that Jesus was born in fulfillment of the ancient prophecies concerning a great king who was to arise from the tribe of Judah; a ruler whom God would call to “Shepherd my people Israel.” He has been baptized by John and proclaimed much more than an earthly king by God himself when a voice spoke from heaven and proclaimed, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus has been tempted by the devil with all of the magnificent kingdoms of the world and has denounced Satan with scripture, “The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” He has called common men to be his disciples and they have left everything to follow him. He has blessed the multitudes, fed them and taught them the deepest things of life. He has cleansed the lepers, healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, rebuked the winds and seas, and walked upon the water. He has fulfilled the most ancient and profound of prophecies and proclaimed God’s kingdom to be at hand, yet the religious leaders have come to him and demanded a sign from heaven. They have demanded that he answer their question in no uncertain terms: “Who are you?” They have demanded that he submit to their authority and prove himself. Jesus refuses. He tells them instead, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign.”

          Now, Jesus takes the disciples to Caesarea Philippi and he poses this question to them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And while the people are ironically more astute in their understanding of who Jesus is then are their own religious authorities, they also fail to grasp the true significance of who Jesus is and what his presence means. And so, Jesus asks the disciples, “But who do you say that I am.” And mustering the courage that the others lack, it is Simon Peter who boldly speaks in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

          Because God has revealed this most profound truth to Peter, it is he that will lead the Church. Because he has boldly professed the truth of Christ, it is he that is given the very keys to the kingdom of heaven. And because he holds these keys, whatever he binds on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever he looses on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Along with awesome knowledge comes awesome power. Along with awesome power comes awesome responsibility. Along with awesome responsibility comes awesome potential. And this awesome potential is no less profound than to become as Christ himself and overcome our own human weakness and limitations that we might live forever with him within this heavenly kingdom that has been unlocked for us.

          The 16^th chapter of Matthew closes with Jesus, after this profound revelation of who he is, instructing the disciples in what it means. It means the cross, and so he tells them of the horrors that lie ahead for him in Jerusalem. And it is from this point onward in Matthew’s gospel that the shadow of the cross falls upon the path of Jesus and he proceeds toward it with unfaltering steps. And he tells the disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

          Today, Jesus has come to us and he poses the same questions: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And the world today answers differently perhaps, but also incorrectly. “A Jewish sage,” some say. “A peasant philosopher,” say others; or, “A well meaning teacher.” And so, he turns to us: we who profess our faith in him; we who claim to be his disciples today; and he poses the same question to us that he did to the original Twelve, “But who do you say that I am?” And the question for us is who among us is bold enough to stand as Peter did and proclaim for all to hear, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And who among us is courageous enough to deny himself, pick up his cross and follow him to Calvary?

          In Acts chapter 12, we read of Peter’s miraculous deliverance from prison. We read about an angel who appeared to him in the degradation and misery of his own incarceration at the hand of King Herod and struck the chains from his wrists and set him free. Because he boldly professed his faith in Christ, because he was willing to follow Jesus to Calvary, and because the Church prayed fervently on his behalf, he was set free. Those of us here today who are also bold enough to stand before Jesus and proclaim as did Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of Living God,” are also set free. If we are bold enough to profess Christ; if we have faith enough to confess our own iniquities and bear our cross to Calvary; if we can weep in true repentance at his blood, shed for us that we might live; and if we can recognize and accept the prayers of those that pray fervently on our behalf; then we will have the shackles of our sin struck from our wrists and be set free: Free from not only the earthly incarceration we have brought upon ourselves, but from the ultimate prison of death brought upon us by our human bondage to sin.

          Should we bind ourselves to sin on earth, heaven will recognize these bonds. Should we loose these bonds through profession of our undying faith in Jesus Christ, who takes away these sins, then we shall find them loosed in heaven as well forever. The keys of St. Peter dangle before us. Profess Jesus Christ is Lord and the unlocked gates of God’s kingdom swing open.

June 29, 2008

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Mass during the Day
Reading 1
Responsorial Psalm
Reading 2
Gospel

Reading 1
Acts 12:1-11

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
“Get up quickly.”
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”
He did so.
Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
“Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

Responsorial Psalm
34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (5) The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him. The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

Reading II
2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel
Mt 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and 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.”