2023/09/18

109. Successors of the Apostles, part 4

Jesus' "my church" (Matthew 16:18) was manifested by the disciples whom the Father had drawn to Jesus (cf. John 6:44) at the scene of the crucifixion. At the same time, Jesus, by receiving and drinking of "the fruit of the vine" (cf. John 19:30), announced that the "kingdom of God" had come. That is because he had said, "[F]rom now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:18) (cf. blog № 96). 

This scene of the crucifixion coincides with that of the institution of the Eucharist the night before, at which Jesus commanded, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19), and is reproduced in the place the Mass is celebrated. Jesus gave Peter the "keys of the kingdom of heaven," i.e., the "key of the bottomless pit" (cf. blog № 106), to block man's accidental information from arising in this place of gathering of believers. 

In bestowing these keys on Peter, Jesus testified, "[W]hatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). That was because Jesus wanted the use of these "keys" to be done on earth as it is in heaven. At his last supper, Jesus said, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:15-16), and so, he certainly desired it and is still waiting for it. 

The words "until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" refer to the time when the liturgy of the Mass is completed. The completed Mass liturgy can demonstrate the efficacy of the "key of the bottomless pit." It then becomes the place where the Lord's Prayer is fulfilled. Jesus made known to believers the name of the Father in heaven and announced the coming of the Kingdom of God, where the name of the Father is hallowed. He prepared the daily bread at the Last Supper for them so that they could "take" and "eat" it following his command and thereby realize forgiveness of our sins (cf. blog № 108). To protect them from temptation and to save them from evil, i.e., to block man's accidental information from occurring, Jesus gave Peter the Apostle the "key of the bottomless pit," the "keys of the kingdom of heaven," which means that he asked the will of the heavenly Father "be done on earth as it is in heaven." 

The successors of the Apostles are in charge of perfecting and exercising the liturgy of the Mass. All the believers on earth who inherit the Lord's Prayer, which Jesus taught, are with them to fulfil the Passover in the Kingdom of God so that Jesus may eat the Passover meal again. 

To be continued.

Maria K. M.