The Southerner
Sunday Reflections
Sunday, June 29, 2025
(Acts 12: 1- 11, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17- 18, Matthew 16:13-19) )
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”. (Matthew 16:19).
My dear brethren in Christ, peace and love of God be with you. Today, we celebrate the two founding fathers of the Christian faith (Peter and Paul); Peter a father to the Jewish Christian community and Paul, a father to the Gentile Christian community.
They laid the foundations for what we enjoy today (Christianity) and urge us to follow in their footsteps to bring to light the Gospel of Christ.
Today, our reflection will be split into three parts. The first part will be anchored on the Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 16:13-19). Here, we see Christ going through a moment of introspection with His Apostles and afterwards ask them the most vital question of his Leadership, who do people think I am, who do you think I am?
On Peter’s response, Christ endorsed him to be the head of the Church on earth and with the injunction that “whatever you bind, prohibit or refuse on earth is also bound in Heaven… (Matthew 16:19).
The second part will be anchored on Paul’s writing to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17 – 18). Here, we see Paul encouraging Timothy and the believers under his care that he has done his part and now, it is theirs to do. He was able to beat his chest and proclaim that he has completed his own task and now awaits his crown, not words of probability but of certainty.
And finally, we look at Acts of the Apostles (Act 12:1-11 ) where the Church exhibited and manifested her intercessory capabilities which led to the freedom of Peter.
In the first part where Christ the Chief Corner Stone of the Church reflects His journey with the Apostles so far points to the the need for all leaders (spiritual or civil) to always in all honesty go back to the drawing board and ask themselves, their allies and followers the same question, how well have I done, what do you think are my strengths and weaknesses, what do people think about me and what do you think about me?
This will surely give them an insight into the journey so far and what lies ahead. It was on this premise that Christ made Peter the principal head of the Church, knowing full well that he understands even though it was not really on human intelligence, but for Peter to have discerned it tells a lot.
He further set him to the intercessory office with those words, “whatever you bind on earth is bound in Heaven…”. Those words are not just instructions, they represent the intercessory office which the Church must step into its fullness. The Church must take up that office to ensure a fair world… A world of peace, justice and equity reigns.
The second following the first, Paul having examined his journey so far, went on to instruct Timothy that whatever that is left, is left for him and his brethren because he was certain of what he has laid down for them. It was a testament of good leadership awaiting its reward and standing as a stepping stone for others to follow. He lived his life as a man who mediates between his belief and establishing a fair world. He was also able to point to the fact that the world by nature will surely oppose inherent good but through the grace of God that surpasses all things, good will always prevail though it comes with its pains.
Finally, in the third part of our reflection, we see the Church in Jerusalem stepping into and manifesting this intercessory office. One of the Apostles, James, has already fallen into the hands of King Herod and now Peter is about to face the same fate, but the Church rose up challenging the order of the day, refusing the fate to fall to Peter.
The Church stepped in as intercessor and God came to the rescue. Who knows what would have happened to the Church if Peter had gone down then, but thanks to God who came to the rescue when the Church interceded, restoring hope and order once again.
My dear brethren in Christ, this is a wake up call for everyone, lovers of good to rise up and ensure that the desired peace is actualised. The Church and her leaders must rise to their responsibility to ensure a fair world to live. Just like in the case of Peter, what is the fate of the world when we as Christians do nothing. Our intercessory is not just on our knees but on the field. In different offices we find ourselves (civil or spiritual), what are our earnest efforts to see that this menace does not continue, how well do you permit evil to grow right under your nose and allow it in the guise of modern conventionality?
Can you, like Paul, say, I have fought the good fight of faith..? You forgot that today is the seen tomorrow, that what we permit today, will surely coming knocking at our doors later; the legacy of the old, is the Young (Charles Lwanga Jnr).
Let’s rise as a Church, as a body, as a family and ensure peace, justice and equity reigns; a fair world. It is our world, we live in it and we must make it good.
May the Peace and Love of God that surpasses all things, rest and abide in our hearts. Amen.
