Sharing Your Gifts is Essential to Human Flourishing
In last Sunday's gospel lectionary passage, Mt 16:13-20, we read about Peter receiving the “keys to the kingdom”: Jesus tells Peter he is building his church on him and what Peter binds on earth will be bound in heaven, etc. Traditionally, this story is interpreted as the time Jesus instituted the authority of the church, or the beginning of the line of apostles that gave popes and priests authority—starting with Peter on down to today.
But most scholars believe this passage actually reflects a time long after Jesus and even Peter had died—a time when the church was starting to formalize. During Jesus’ life and ministry, there was no such thing as a formal church. Not even close. For years, followers of Jesus got together informally, in houses over a shared meal.
So I appreciate that this gospel passage is combined in the lectionary with our reading from Romans 12:1-8. Because Romans 12 is a great counter-balance to the Peter story, the “keys to the kingdom” story. Romans 12:1-8 is a reminder that we are all part of one body, and that all parts are absolutely equally important and necessary…. {Read remainder of article on Patheos HERE.}