DAILY MEDITATIONS AND REFLECTIONS SATURDAY OF THE 8th WEEK OF THE YEAR

              

1.Jude17: 20b-25

Gospel: Mk 11:27-33

" Are we still questioning the authority of Jesus today?"

In the course of reading different books including journals and different news papers,  I came across two rules in my reading: Rule # 1:The boss is always right. Rule#2: When the boss is wrong refer to rule #1.

In our gospel today, dear brothers and sisters, we are being presented three component sections of the Sanhedrin. It is comprised of the chief priests, scribes, and the elders. These were the supreme religious authority of the Jews. However, in our today's reading these people have been portrayed with bad image, as men of bad faith. Their bad faith is seen in their behavior and attitudes. We see in the gospel scenario discrediting Jesus, more especially by questioning the authority of Jesus to teach, not particularly in the pursuit of wisdom and understanding, but simply to discredit whatever Jesus was doing for man's well being. Jesus instead turns upside down the question they asked Him concerning his authority to teach, he asked them a question concerning the baptism of John the Baptist, that if his baptism was of divine origin or simply of human origin, with that question, they evaluated the consequences of possible replies, consequently they would be trapped by their own question.

Let's have a quick glance on the matter of Authority: In a normal sense authority is usually defined as something that causes another person to "do what you want him/her to do." For example the 2007 edition of Encarta dictionaries says that authority  is: " the right or power to enforce rules or give orders." In this sense the root idea of authority is to control or give direction about other's actions.

I found an article concerning authority on a certain journal, Technology journal 22 July 1970p.273, written by a famous writer known as William Oncken. Jr. In the journal he analyzed four elements that comprise authority:

First is the  Authority of competence: The more competent the other fellow knows you are, the more confident he will be that you know what you are talking, doing and it is likely that he will be able to follow your orders, requests, or suggestions. He/she will think of you as authority in the matter under consideration and will feel it risky to ignore your wishes.

Second is the Authority of position: This component of authority actually empowers you to tell someone, " Do it or else." it has teeth or you will face the consequences of your refusal. " The boss wants it." This is form of authority that can snap many an office or shop into action.

Third is the Authority of Personality: This is the kind of authority whereby, the easier it is for the other to talk to you, to listen to you or to work with you, the easier he will find it to respond to your wishes.

Fourth is the Authority of character: This component of authority is all about one's characteristics ( credit rating) with other people to your integrity, reliability, honesty loyalty, sincerity, personal morals, and ethics. It is obvious that you will get more and better from a man who has respect for your character than from one who hasn't.

In addition to that those who were in authorities had difficult in letting go their biases and prejudices against Jesus. They had formed opinions in their minds about what the Messiah would be like. Just like the Sanhedrin members how do we act, and react to our brothers and sisters knowing something we don't know? do we close our minds and hearts without not letting ourselves understand the new ideas and views from others? Today Jesus is challenging us to be open to others and God. We are invited to soften our hearts instead of hardening them to hear the voice of God.