The Papacy - part 3
Do you remember when your parents first gave you your own key to the family home? It was a significant occasion. You were being given responsibility.
Even before that, if parents are away from the house for a period of time, they might give the house key to the eldest child, a symbol that that child is now in charge until they return; they are to take care of the property but, more importantly, take care of their younger siblings.
So what did Jesus mean when he said to Simon Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven”?
We can certainly leave behind the cartoon imagery of Peter at the pearly gates, deciding whether to open them for you on the day of judgement. Instead, Jesus is alluding to Isaiah 22.
In the kingdom of David, there was an office called ‘al bayith’ or leader ‘over the house’ of David. The prophet Isaiah said of this office, “I will place on his shoulder the key of the House of David.”
This person was second in rank only to the king, acted as a father to the entire kingdom and had royal authority to make binding decisions on the entire kingdom.
The key to the house of David is a symbol of this authority and fatherly role over the people. And although it was one man who had this authority, it was actually his office, his position, that gave him the authority; in time, he would be succeeded by another man who would then hold that office and hold the key.
This was the understood background to what Jesus said to Peter, and so it is with the Papacy.
In around 180AD, St Irenaeus wrote how the Bishop of Rome was the foundation of the Church, and listed those that had held the office from Peter to his time, highlighting as crucial to the Church this apostolic succession and tradition.
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