Getting Ready to Pray                     

There is an old saying is about the squeaky wheel getting the oil. This would indicate that anybody who complains loud enough will get attention. Little children in church seem to know this very well; they receive an abundance of attention from near-by parents and the total congregation.

There is a type of person we might label as a “complainer.” No one and nobody escapes negative recognition or comment.

I am not complaining about these folks, but I have noticed that those who grumble about persons and things around them are revealing more a basic dissatisfaction about their own insides.

Each of us knows our own personal “un-rightnesses” and we can pray with them with humility. As we live toward the next celebration of the Eucharist within our communities, we could pray for a little grace-oil right where we are likely to be grumping about ourselves.

Some Thoughts 

As often happens when hearing the verses in the First Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, we need to read the full chapter from which the verses are taken. This is quite true in order to catch the full flavor of today’s First Reading. Shebna has had a rather lofty image of himself as well as a lofty place in the palace. He has begun to immortalize himself by beginning to construct his own tomb in a lofty place on the mountain. God has told him the he will be wadded up like a ball and thrown out of the country with all his finery. He will die there in disgrace.

In this oracle God not only takes away Shebna’s symbols of domination, but calls somebody else from a different family to bless the people. Eliakim will be a “father” to the people of Jerusalem and all the people will be his family under God. Instead of warring with power and haughty presumption based on family of origin, Eliakim will be steadfast and use his authority for peace.

In the Gospel, Jesus travels with his disciples to a city whose name celebrates Roman power and its domination of Israel. Here he poses a big question for the purpose of eliciting a bigger answer. For the first time in their relationship Peter, speaking for the other disciples, declares publicly the name which is opposed to the power of Roman worldly forces, and all other ones. Jesus is the Christ and the son of God.

Peter, who comes from his earthly family, bar Jonah, or “son of Jonah,” is given a new name and as with Eliakim, he is given a title and a power. Peter, the name in Greek and Aramaic means “rock,” is to be the foundation of the group called together, or more commonly known as the Church.

As we heard last July 19th in the First Reading for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, from the Book of Wisdom, “your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.” … “But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency.” The “keys” which Peter receives are the instruments of governing as Jesus received that power from his Father. Those keys in the hands of Jesus opened ears, eyes, and hearts. Those “keys” in the hands of Jesus shut out darkness, evil, and death from dominating God’s creation and God’s family.

Jesus had received his identity and needed no jingling of power-keys to satisfy this world’s demands. We are each invited to exercise his power to open ears, eyes, and hearts and to shut out the noises of false teachings, false posturing, and false temptations to identity.

Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
(Psalm 138:8)