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Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
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Gospel text (Mt 18:15-20): Jesus said to his disciples: "... Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

The "power of the keys"

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, the Gospel emphasizes the close connection between Jesus and the "we" of the new family that He gathers by His proclamation and His action. God did not want to save man individually, but as being part of a community. It has become evident that this “we” is intended to be universal: it no longer rests on birth, but on communion with Jesus.

This "we" of the new family is not "amorphous". Jesus calls an inner core of people specially chosen by Him, who are to carry on His mission and give this family order and shape. In view of the Mission of service to which Jesus called them, He also transmitted them the so-called "power of the keys" (in particular to Peter). The calling of the disciples is a prayer event; it is as if they were begotten in prayer, in intimacy with the father.

—O Jesus, you called those whom you desired to ensure that they would be with You, and then, You send them to us: we ask You more pastors for Your harvest.