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Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

Sunday 23rd (A) in Ordinary Time

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Gospel text (Mt 18,15-20): Jesus said to his disciples, «(…) I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, heaven will keep bound; and whatever you unbind on earth, heaven will keep unbound. In like manner, I say to you: if on earth two of you are united in asking for anything, it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered in my Name, I am there among 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.