Authority today

Authority is challenged.

27 They returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him 28 and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” 31 They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘[Then] why did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”—they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. 33 So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”-Mark11:27-33

Because Jesus did not conform to the expectations of the chief priests, scribes and elders of His time, they challenged His authority. Perhaps their question really is, 'By what authority are you doing these things since you [Jesus] were not like us? Who gave you the authority to cleanse the Temple if we ourselves allow business inside?' The Gospel reading is a challenge for all especially to the clergy and consecrated men and women. Are we Christ-like despite being in authority? How are we as a leader? How are we as an authority? As a public servant, how am I serving the people who voted for me? As a celebrity, how am I using my fame to touch people's lives? As a doctor, do I really heal or am I after the money?

Image courtesy: Pope Francis