SELECT HERE for the Audio recording of the Readings of
Sunday, August 23rd, 2020, Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time..

SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, August 23rd, 2020, Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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Sunday, August 23rd, 2020, Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time.
 

Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the Palace:  I will thrust you from your office And pull you down from your station.  I will place the key of David on Eliakim's Shoulder.  When he opens, no one shal shut.  When he shuts, no one shall open.
Isaiah 22: 19-20, 22

TO BE OVER’ IS ‘TO BE UNDER’

Who of us just gives ‘the keys’ of your house/home (or something you treasure) to anyone who asks?  Or have you unknowingly exposed your bank account password?
 
In both cases, what did you fear would happen?
 
‘Key(s)’ is literally an instrument for locking or unlocking doors or gates, which controls entrance and exit. It takes on a new meaning in the Scriptures. It refers to:  authority, power, control, a position, a place of honor; that which ‘gives access’.  The one who possess ‘the key’ is master and Lord one would think.  On the contrary, the readings this weekend remind us that ‘to be over’ is ‘to be under’. ‘The Key’ means the obligation to serve.
 
Who are Shebna and Eliakim ? (the two main characters in the first reading).  Shebna is the ‘master of the palace’; He is sort of a chief of staff or prime minster.  He determines who has access to the King or not.  When Shebna closes the door, no one shall open, and when he opens no one shall shut.  But there is more to Shebna, he is corrupt.  His sin is one of megalomania.  He does everything to perpetuate himself and his ideas.  He is possessed by his power. He even built himself an underground sepulcher like those constructed for the Egyptian rulers and prince. He goes around riding in chariots as a sign of high rank.  He apparently took good care of himself, not the people.  His position was about being like ‘a father’ to meet the people’s needs.  Yet he did not see himself under the obligation to serve.  He sought title and honor.
 
Now, the Lord will strip him from his office, he will be ‘pulled down’ from his station. ‘The Keys’ will now go to Eliakim (Eliakim is the faithful servant, who will now assume the exclusive power to open and close the palace)
 
Where do we see in our society the ‘abuse of power’?  Where do we see authority used for self promotion?  What have you done about it?  Have you spoken up?  Why are you silent? 
 
Peter is made leader of his church community. But being over others means one is under the compulsion to serve and assist others.  He is the ‘rock’ (Cephas).  He is to afford solidity for the community.  His strength is to be their strength.  Peter holds ‘the key’ to teach the ways of the Kingdom.  He has the power ‘to bind or to loose’ (authority, discipline).  He must promote the greater common good, not Peter’s personal good.  To be over is to be under.
 
As Christians, we have a tall order in our world and society to teach or re-teach the responsibility and obligation to serve others.  Do you see this as a ‘modus operandi’ of our leaders: civil, political, Christian etc.?  How can we as a church grow and nurture in our community, life and family, the responsibility of others?  How can we be prophets who speak up against the abuse of power?  How can we cultivate Christian leadership values into the fabric of our society?  Do you think there is no need for this, whatsoever?  Might the lack of responsibility for others be at the heart of what fractures today’s modern society?
 
In everything we do, we must begin by asking, where is God in this?  Am I serving for the greater glory of God?
 
A Blessed week in the Lord!

Fr. Anthony



View the below videos for other reflections on the readings.