WHOSE AUTHORITY?
Someone once asked me by what way do I exercise power — by way of love
or domination? At first, I thought it was a weird question to ask but
then I found myself reflecting. Yes, I do have authority as a priest,
but how
do I exercise this power? Jesus always seemed to be in trouble with the
authorities of the day. He was never at rest from their complaints and
suspicions of His power. Whenever they were in contact with Jesus, they
were forever seeking to catch Him out for a quick arrest so as to be
done with Him. They hated Him and His ways; they detested the sight of
Him. As we near Christmas, we are
reminded of Him who came as light, yet His own would not accept Him.
In one way or another, each of us has power — power to dominate or power to love. We find this power at play in teachers, parents, professionals, work
colleagues, friends and acquaintances. The question of the elders in
today’s Gospel is meant to be a test to Jesus — to catch Him out on what
He might say. He replies to their test by way of counter questioning — a
popular Rabbinic trait. Since they cannot answer a question concerning
the baptism ministry of John, how much more will they misunderstand the
authority of Jesus? The same arguments they
put in reply to Jesus’ question is the same they will place on the part
of Jesus’ authority. In the end, they will be going against God or
against the popular response of the people. They themselves become
trapped in their own testing.
Life is often full of misunderstandings. The Cross and Resurrection are
a total misunderstanding on the part of the disciples. The same goes
for Christmas. This third week of Advent, we are leading up to the
greatest mystery of God becoming man. Jesus is the One sent by the
Father to be our
sacrifice. In a beautiful way, St. John of the Cross states that God
has spoken His final word in the sending of His Son. He has nothing else
to say. God the Father bestows on Him authority, power and wisdom. Fr. Brian Steele,
MGL
REFLECTION QUESTION: Let us submit to the authority of Jesus, who is Lord and Savior of all mankind.
Lord, I believe that You are the Son of God. Rule over my life and save me from my sin. Amen.
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