Authority in Christ Jesus

Reflection on Today's Readings, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Year A, 23rd August, 2020
Texts: Is. 22:19-23; Ps. 138:1-3.6.8; Rom. 11:33-36; Matt. 16:13-20
 Man has no authority; whatever authority he has comes from God (Rom.13:1). St. Paul, in the second reading, says, "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen". Jesus Christ says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matt. 28:18). At another place, he says, " "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you" (Lk. 10:19). God shares his authority with man. The first reading reminds us that we can lose the authority received from Christ by our sins. The reading says, "Thus says the Lord to Shebna, who is over the household: 'I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station'". Authority means being free to decide, having the right to act, or ability to carry out an action (Act 1:7; Mark 6:7). Many have lost the authority given to them as the sons and daughters of God; they are now being scared and dominated by the devil.
Jacques Maritain says, "Authority is the right to direct and command, to be listened to or obeyed by others". Some parents have lost their authority over their children because of their wayward life; some heads, whether in religious, social and political worlds, have lost their authorities over their followers or subjects because of their improprieties.
The gospel teaches us that our authority in Christ is rooted in our knowledge of him. When Peter recognise his identity, he was given keys of the kingdom of heaven, the authority that effects in heaven what he accomplishes on earth. The knowledge of Christ confers on us the authority to effect in heaven what we accomplish on earth.
The authority continues to be present in the Church: first, as the custodian and repository of the knowledge of Christ and second, in the person of successor of St. Peter. The Church possess the keys of the kingdom of heaven,the authority to open and none shall shut, and to shut and none shall open, the authority to effect in heaven what she accomplishes on earth. The first reading is fulfilled in the life of the Church.

May God help us to avail ourselves the benefits of the authority he has given to the Church. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke