Arulvakku

22.02.10 KEYS

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16, 18-19)

Keys of the kingdom of heaven are given to Peter. They could have been given to some Angels. Jesus could have kept the keys with himself. Why does Jesus give to a human and that too a weak, failing and wavering human. We know well the character of Peter.
Does this mean that anyone could have been given? One does not have the need to possess any special human or social qualities to be given the keys.
The only quality that one needs to have is the attitude to accept the revelation of God. Peter was open to the revelation of God and it was God who revealed to Peter who Jesus was. God’s revelation seems to be the criterion for a man to have recourse to heaven or even control over heaven.
This idea is very well seen in the vocation stories of Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah   etc. Their human, social qualities were not considered. Instead they were open to God and God’s revelation. So they received blessings from heaven and they had control over the things of heaven (heavenly things)
So one could have the keys of the kingdom of heaven (like Peter) provided he is open to God’s revelation.