DAILY HOMILY: MONDAY OF 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT. (1)

DAILY HOMILY: MONDAY OF 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT.

THEME: BY WHOSE AUTHORITY?

BY: FR GERALD M. MUSA

Webster-Merriam Dictionary defines authority as “The power to influence or command thought, opinion, and behaviour.” Jesus exercised authority and the chief priests and elders asked about his source of authority. They questioned his authority to forgive and accused him of blasphemy (Matthew 9:3); besides, they wondered how he taught with great authority (Mark 1:22). After he drove business people away from the temple, the scribes and elders asked, “By what authority are you doing these things and who gave you this authority” (Matthew 21:23). Their question was a trap.

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They would accuse him of blasphemy if he said, he was acting on divine authority; if he says he derived his authority from any renowned teacher, they would have questioned the truth of such a claim. Jesus smartly answered their question with another question by asking them to provide an answer if they wanted to know from whom he derives his authority. In another scriptural passage, Jesus revealed the source of his authority. He says, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works” (John 14:10). He was able to do great things because he submitted totally to the authority of God. As we prepare for Christmas there is a need to pause and ask, whose authority influences us the most in life?

MATTHEW 21:23-27;

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