21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
God is the ultimate source of authority. During the days of Isaiah in our first reading, Shebna had been authority as “master of the palace.” He did not use his authority well, He became prideful and brought shame to the king.
So, the Lord declared to Shebna, “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station.” If we use what God has given us for our own selfishness, He has every right to take back what He has given us.
The Lord selects Eliakim to take over, declaring, “I will clothe him with our robe, and gird him with your sash.” The robe and the sash symbolize the authority Eliakim has been given by God just as the vestments worn by clergy today symbolize the role that God has given them (just as He did at the ordination of Aaron in chapter 8 of the Book of Leviticus.
Eliakim does not use the authority he has been given for his own gain. He uses it to “be a father” to his people. What Eliakim does is pleasing to God. To complete the symbolism of his authority, the Lord gives Eliakim the “key of the House of David.” His authority is clear, “when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open.“
Turning to today’s gospel, ‘Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?“‘ Their answer will say something about the authority they recognize in Jesus. The people are saying Jesus could be John the Baptist or Elijah or another prophet. As such, Jesus would have the authority do a prophet.
Jesus then asks his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” It is Peter who responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Prophets are special but Peter realizes that Jesus is not just another prophet. Jesus is the Son of the living God. Peter does not know this because others, “flesh and blood“, told him. Peter knows this because God has chosen to reveal it to him.
Jesus makes Peter the rock upon which He will build his church. He gives Peter the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.” Peter becomes the first among the Apostles. The Apostles are the first bishops. Peter is the first pope. This is the authority given to them by Jesus.
In some places where there are monarchies, the authority of the leader may come from heredity, passed down from parent to child. In democratic nations, formal modern authority comes from an election by the people.
In today’s modern society, informal authority is sometimes given to people whom we agree with while we choose not to recognize the authority of people we disagree with. Whether or not we agree with them should not be a determining factor of authority. It presumes we are right. If we presume we are right, on whose authority do we do this? In effect, we declare ourselves our own authority. This is a hallmark of relativism.
God is the one who is always right. His Will is always good for us by his very nature. Why should we listen to God? We should recognize authority to God because of the kindness He has shown to us. We should recognize his authority because He gives us strength to persevere. Please note that we recognize his authority, not that we give him authority. Whether we recognize it or not, God is the ultimate authority.
We can trust in God because Jesus is the one who lays down his life for us because of his love for us. God is the one who is all-knowing. As Paul writes to the Romans, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!” Our wisdom is limited by our humanity. God’s wisdom is absolute. We can trust him as the authority. Thy will be done.
God continues to bestow authority on whom his chooses today. Please pray for all who are given authority, that they use it well.
Peace,
Fr. Jeff