It is during this point in our liturgical year that we truly see the "Apocalyptic Jesus" who speaks of the end of times and the afterlife. In Matthew 16:18-20, it reads:
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
The word "loose" here means to set free. Jesus is giving Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. And then, mysteriously, Jesus tells them all not to tell anyone that he is the Messiah. The Gospel of Matthew places and emphasis on Jewish traditions and was likely written for a community that still considered themselves to be Jewish. This passage shows us that "Jewish-ness" but also demonstrates the departure from Hebrew traditions when Jesus says, "on this rock I will build my church".
Jesus foretold the creation of his church, now 2000 years old. How has the church changed since the times of Peter and Paul? How might we re-capture some of the traditions of the early Christians? Can we achieve the same closeness as the early Christians had with Christ through scripture?
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