Life is flat like a field on which the farmer was digging in Matthew 13: 44-46. But the idea is that if you dig deep enough you will find treasures in your life, however flat your life may be, as the farmer found treasure in his flat field. In life, revival is possible.
The first question of Jesus, ‘who do people say that I am’ was just a process of information gathering. The second question, ‘who do you say that I am’ demanded an answer from the disciples (Matthew 16:13-20). An unquestioned life goes nowhere. The disciples went into a moment of silence. They had to dig deep. However flat the life of peter was, when he dug deep enough, he could see, hear the revelation of the Father, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Having heard the answer of Peter, Jesus gives Peter, the other disciples, and all of us, four blessings: on you (Peter) the rock I will build my church, never will the power of death over come the church, I will give you the keys of the heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
On you I will build my church. What you are would become part of the building. At the death of Jesus, the veil in the temple was torn from up to down, meaning, it was an act from the One who is above. God has removed the separation between the sacred and profane. Everything is raised to the realm of the sacred, and deserves respect and reverence. God has sanctified the earth, and the powers of hades will have no power over it.
I will give you the keys of the heaven. Keys of heaven are in your hands; if you are available, generous, cordial, etc. you will admit many into heaven. Whether you open the door or shut the door of heaven to others would depend on which direction you turn the keys, which is in your possession.
Notes taken during my annual retreat, preached by Bobby Jose Kattikad, Capuchin.
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