Homily for Monday, 15 December 2014– Ferial

Monday of the 3rd Week in Advent

Readings of the day: Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a; Psalm 25:4-5ab, 6, 7bc, 8-9; Matthew 21:23-27

“The chief priests and elders” in the temple ask Jesus in today’s Gospel reading, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority”?

I imagine that we know the answer to these questions that the religious leaders of Jesus’ time asked him. I imagine that “the chief priests and elders of the people” knew the answers to their own questions, too. What is the nature of Jesus’ authority? Who gave Jesus the authority he has?

Authority can be frightening. Can we not think of people in positions of authority in society and in the Church who have abused their authority? The word “authoritarian” often carries a negative connotation. But Jesus’ authority is not a domineering, abusive, or self-absorbed kind of authority. So what is Jesus’ kind of authority?

Jesus’ authority is a priestly authority, as the perfect mediator of the sacred, God, to all creation, since he is both God and human. Jesus’ authority is a prophetic authority, preaching a truth that raises the poor, those of low social status, and the oppressed to their full dignity as daughters and sons of God. At the same time, Jesus’ prophetic authority exposes and destroys the false authority of those who dominate, oppress, or abuse. Jesus’ authority is a royal authority; the authority of a servant-leader; an authority willing to empty himself on a cross for our salvation.

And who is the source of Jesus’ priestly, prophetic, and royal authority? Jesus’ authority is from God. The religious authorities of Jesus’ time knew of claims that Jesus was God, and they were justifiably afraid. Have we not known “authorities” who have claimed or had others claim for them to be like gods? I think of cult leaders, terrorists, and many dictators even in our lifetime. In Jesus’ time the Romans claimed Caesar to be a god.  Can we not then appreciate how “the chief priests and elders of the people” were afraid of this kind of authority?

And yet Jesus’ authority respects and lifts up human dignity. It saves. Anything short of this is not true authority; is not God’s authority.  But is it not also especially remarkable that Jesus has given each of us his own priestly, prophetic, and royal authority through the sacrament of baptism?

If we were to be asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority,” how would we answer? How do we show to people around us the authority we have from God; an authority that lifts one another up; an authority for one another’s good; an authority that is kind, gentle, and just?

Many in our world continue to fear our kind of authority, even when we exercise it rightly. And so to live the authority of our Christian baptism takes courage. It takes discernment of where God is present in our lives, inspiring our exercise of authority. Our authority is not our own; it is from God, the author of all life and dignity. And yet we have this gift of authority, a priestly, prophetic, and royal authority; the authority of Jesus Christ the Son of God; authority for one another’s good; authority to lift up the poor and oppressed; authority that saves us.