Word to the Wise
Saturday, June 2, 2007 - Eighth Saturday in Ordinary Time
[Sirach 51:12CD-20 and Mark 11:27-33]As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?"
Credentials and symbols of authority are important. Police wear badges. Doctors wear white coats. Judges wear a black robe. Priests wear roman collars. The buildings they work in add to the meaning of their authority. The questioners in this incident are representatives of the highest Jewish authority in Jerusalem: the Sanhedrin - the chief priests, the scribes and the elders. Their authority is connected with the temple, even if they are not all priests. Jesus has just "cleansed" the temple and created an uproar! But the temple had become corrupt as was the system that it supported. It had no longer become a true house of faith. The result is that its authority was being replaced by Jesus. It is only with the eyes of faith that a person could see why Jesus acted as he did. Since the priests, scribes and elders did not believe in Jesus, he could not tell him what his authority is. As far as they are concerned, he is a wandering teacher from Galilee! How dare he enter the temple and cause a near riot! Whatever or whoever gave him the idea he had authority to do that? Only a believer could answer that question! The question could be asked of us. Is it clear from the way we believe that God's authority is acting in us? Can we dare to speak for God or even OF God? Whatever or whoever gives us this authority? Is it only clergy who can do this? Or is it the baptismal commitment? The First Letter of Peter (3:15) says: "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope..." The strength of our faith is the authority with which we speak. AMEN
config
view
logs
3840.0 KB
48 ms
4
