Listen

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching. They asked, “What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority?”

Matthew 21:23

Think

In an educational setting, we know who has the authority to assign a task or lead an activity; and we also know what happens when someone tries to give instructions without having that authority: someone will probably ask, “And who gave you the right to give instructions?”

Something similar happens in today’s reading. Jesus enters the temple and teaches. As he does so, the chief priests and the elders approach him with a question: they want to know by what authority he is doing these things.

Their question invites us to reflect on our own relationship with power. Perhaps you have authority as the leader of a group, a team captain, an older brother or sister, a class representative, or simply because other people listen to your opinion. What do you do with that influence? Authority can be used to control and demonstrate superiority, or—as we see in Jesus’ example—it can be exercised with humility to serve, help, and lift others. It doesn’t matter how much power we have; what matters is what we do with it.

Lilybeth Bosch

Question to Ponder:

What influence do you have on other people, and how can you use it with humility?

Pray

God, help me recognize the influence I have. Teach me to use it to serve others and do good. Amen.

Go

May you do what is right, be faithful and loyal, and humbly obey your God.

Micah 6:8b DHH