Key to the City
Originally scheduled for May 16, 2010
Recently, the mayor of New York presented a
key to the city to one Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot
who landed Flight 1549 safely on the Hudson River. Giving a key
is a time tested custom. We present the key to the city to those
who have shown some outstanding achievement. The origin of the
custom goes back into the Middle Ages, when cities were walled
and the key had the remnants of some practical significance.
The Scriptures speak of Christ holding some
symbolic keys as well:
·
He holds the
key of David. It is a symbol of his royal authority;
indeed the Scripture tells us that what Christ
opens no one can shut; what he shuts no one can open.
·
He holds the
key to Death itself. He is the one who raised Lazarus
from the grave. He is the one and only one to conquer
his own death, and rise again.
·
He holds the
key to Hell as well. Do not fear the man who can kill
you; fear the man who can kill you and send you to Hell.
Keys are given for great accomplishment.
Christ gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven to his church, for
his church would continue his work. But he asks that his church
remember the accomplishment for which his keys are given: the
sacrifice on the Cross.
Awarding a key to the city is done in a ceremony, not via the
mail. Christ asks that you participate in the ceremony of
Communion so that you will remember the sacrifice he made – and
honor the one who made it.
