Thoughts for the Day

He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When I became the Vicar of Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan and Welland, the Bishop of Worcester gave me the key of one of the three churches during my commissioning service. Indeed the whole wonderful service was girded with practical imagery – the huge ewer filled with water for baptism; the paten with bread and the chalice with wine for the Eucharist. But the key linked to Matthew’s reading above where Jesus gives Peter the keys of heaven, and through him the validation of the disciples and those who would follow was especially memorable. The key itself was HUGE! It measured about 1 foot (30.48 cm) and I remember thinking where on earth would one keep it, and being amazed at its sheer weight.

The key was a symbol of the spiritual authority given by God to me over the people living in the parishes. Not that I could do this alone, but I was to be open to the needs of the people in the three villages, to help them in any way I could, under God’s authority. This is called the “cure of all souls” and it can sometimes bring tension between the church congregation (who think their vicar is just there for them) and the wider parish (especially when you spend time attending the village garden show or other village events).

When Peter is given “the keys of heaven” he is not expected to do the work of gathering those to enter heaven on his own, he is to be the focal point, the spiritual leader of the disciples and those who will work to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as I was given that huge key to the church door it would take all those Christians who attended that church to do God’s work and spread His message of peace and love throughout the area. Just think how many millions of ordinary Christians must have spread the message for it to reach us 2,000 years later!

Holy Spirit, Power of God,
grant to us the fruits of Your presence:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control -
as may be best for us.
Then help us to use these gifts
to further the work of Your Kingdom
in all the places that we go:
Amen.