HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT.(2)

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT.

THEME: ‘I will not tell you my authority for acting like this.

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA.

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Numbers 24:2-7,15-17
Psalm 24:4-6,7-9
Matthew 21:23-27

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
VIOLET

*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brethrens, authority can easily become a contentious issue. Who has authority? Who has the right to exercise it? How should authority be exercised? In our time ‘authority’ has become a somewhat negative word. Authority figures get a bad press, sometimes with very good reason. The issue of authority is central to this morning’s gospel reading.

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*FROM THE GOSPEL OF TODAY*
In todays Gospel reading, Jesus had just performed a somewhat provocative act in the Temple in Jerusalem, driving out those who were buying and selling, overturning the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Those who considered themselves to have authority in the temple understandably demanded to know who gave Jesus the authority to do what he had just done. We know the answer to that question. Jesus was acting on the authority of God. Jesus considered the Temple to be the house of his Father; that gave him all the authority he needed to do what he did.

*CONCLUSION*
This morning’s gospel reminds us that when it comes to our faith, the ultimate authority is Jesus. We constantly have to submit our lives to God’s Son. All human authority, including human religious authority, is secondary compared to the authority of Jesus. He alone is Lord of our lives. The Lord’s authority is one which shows itself not in dominating others but in serving them. At the last supper, Jesus declared himself to be the Lord and Master of his disciples and, yet, he washed their feet, rendering them what would have been considered a demeaning service. He was showing them and us how authority in his name is to be exercised.
The Lord be with you!

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