Reflection 12/15/20:
“By what Authority are you doing these things? And who gave you that authority?” Yesterday’s Gospel discusses the chief
priests and elders asking Jesus why he thought he had the authority to teach in
the temple. Can you imagine questioning
Jesus on who gave Him the authority to do anything? My first response to this question was of
course not, I can’t imagine doing that.
However, on second consideration, the majority of today’s society meets
all authority with some level of skepticism doesn’t it?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this type
skepticism in my every day discussions with people; the doctor says that the
child’s diagnosis is this: “I don’t think that doctor knows what he’s talking
about”; the coach calls a particular play in a particular situation: “That
coach is an idiot, he should have ran this..”; police officers, teachers,
dentists….let’s face it, anyone who attempts to tell us something we don’t 100%
agree with and watch out if they actually offer constructive criticism to go along
with it. Trust me, I’ve been guilty of
this skepticism myself and I’ve certainly had my judgement/decision process
questioned more than a fair share. So
why is it so difficult for us, why was it so difficult for the chief priests
and elders, to accept the knowledge base from someone other than
ourselves? Is it really because we know
that we can do whatever it is better or, is it because we struggle with hearing
the truth?
The truth is that, just as Jesus says in John 3:11, “We
speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen”. The truth is where Christ’s authority comes
from. The truth is often times difficult
to hear in our lives and challenging to adhere to. The truth is what we are all supposed to
listen to and follow. Christ calls us as
disciples to bear witness to the truth capital “T”.
The year 2020 has filled us with skepticism because of false
truths to the point of dimensioning our hope.
May this Advent Season remind us all of our responsibility to the Truth
of Jesus Christ and strengthen our resolve while increasing peace with and
among us.
Mr. Swann – Principal