(Is.22:19-23; Ps.138:1-3,6,8; Rom.11:33-36; Mt.16:13-20) "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." Thus the Lord grants principal authority in His Church to His rock, Peter. Thus He prophesies what He has promised: the power and teaching given those who sit on Moses' seat shall pass to this new leader He appoints to guide the flock of the New Jerusalem. And is this designation, or redesignation, of power not remarkably foreshadowed in our first reading: "I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim's shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open"? For the Lord has said to "Shebna, master of the palace: 'I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station… and give over to [Eliakim] your authority.'" The same declaration Jesus has made to the chief priests and leaders of the people, and here He indicates its fulfillment. "He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah." Is this not the case with our Papa, our Pope, whom the Lord has assigned in His "inscrutable" judgment to feed His sheep? "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" whose mind no man has known. For see the authority He gives to man, He who has all power to give. Even unto heaven does the reign of the apostles now extend, with Peter in the fore. And "the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it," for it is granted by "the Christ, the Son of the living God" through the revelation of His "heavenly Father." "I will fix Him like a peg in a sure spot," the Lord states of Eliakim; and now no surer peg is there than Peter, through whose care all "worship at [the Lord's] holy temple." "Your kindness, O Lord endures forever." Your love for your sons on earth reaches unto heaven. And so you grant us blessings beyond our imagining; you strengthen us beyond our weak frame. And as to the apostles you deliver authority, so one in your grace all become. How shall we repay you for your kindness toward us? How shall we care for the gift you give? How shall we maintain your presence among us, except that in your love you remain? Bless this House and all its leaders; may "in the presence of the angels [we] sing your praise." Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Branch of the Vine" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. (Background chanting by members of Neocatechumenal movement awaiting arrival of Pope Benedict XVI at the United Nations.) ******* O LORD, teach us always to do what is right that we might be as your sons and enter into your House. YHWH, all peoples are called to your glory, to your kingdom, for all are sons and daughters to you. But truly you must be our Father, we must come from you, we must reflect your image, the image your only Son reflects to us in His way of the Cross, if we are to enter your presence. Relying on accidents of time or place we shall never be saved. Only by accepting the discipline you offer will be made ready for Heaven. Strengthen us, O LORD, by the chastisement you bring to our souls, by the Word of truth come from Jesus' mouth. He knows you and is the way to you – let us be obedient to His call and the call of His apostles to enter through the narrow gate, to leave all of this world behind that we might come rejoicing to your holy mountain with all our brothers and sisters, with all your blessed children. May all men hear your Son's voice this day, that none shall be barred from your kingdom.