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Today's readings are concerned with the source and succession of power and authority. In the first reading Shebna, an official in the royal household at the time of the prophet Isaiah, is removed from his position and Eliakim is elevated to take his place. All the trappings of power and authority are described here but some scholars believe that the passage is not meant to be understood literally but as a description of a future messianic figure.

Matthew was familiar with the Isaiah passage and he draws on some of the same ideas and images when describing how Jesus entrusted Peter with authority in the Church. The evangelist uses the symbol of keys to represent the authority, derived from God, to bind and loose (make legal decisions). The conferring of authority comes after Peter's confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi when the disciples were asked about Jesus' identity. Peter is the only disciple at that time to have received the revelation that Jesus is the Christ.

The reading from the Letter to the Romans concludes the section concerning God's relationship with the Jewish people. Paul has struggled to understand God's continued relationship with them when most have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah. He has admitted that God does not go back on his promises. Here Paul praises God whose mind is impossible to understand and penetrate and he acknowledges that God is supreme as everything has come from him.

How often do we recognize God's sovereignty and power? Today let us thank God for everything we have received from God.

Put yourself in the disciples place and answer the question Jesus put to his disciples. How do you answer?

Pray the psalm slowly and prayerfully today.