THE THRUST OF AUTHORITY

Reflection for 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Is 22:19-23; Rm 11:33-36; Mt 16:13-20)

What is the common problem we face in delegating authority? This precaution appears in every human gathering, even in family circles. Transmitting and entrusting authority to another person is easier said than done. But we see Jesus in the Gospel of this Sunday freely entrusting the authority-keys of the Kingdom of Heaven of Peter.

This happened in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading, where the Lord handed over to Eliakim the authority of Shebna over Jerusalem and the house of Judah. “And I will place on his shoulder the authority of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” Jesus would use similar words on Peter as they enter the district of Caesarea Philippi.

According to biblical historians, Caesarea Philippi was originally known as Panion. The City was located on the southern slope of Mount Hermon near the River Jordan. Emperor Augustus Caeser put the district under Herod the Great. Herod’s son, Philip, rebuilt the City and changed the name to Caesarea Philippi. This was how a Jewish territory took on a Roman identity. On entering this City, Jesus threw in the question of his own identity to His disciples.

He asked them, “Who do people say that the Son of man is?” People identified Him by comparing Him with the holy men and prophets of old. This was based on the impression they got from his miracles and teaching authority. So, they likened Jesus to be another John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, etc. People will always describe others on these two principles of ‘comparison’ and ‘selfish impression.’ Often times, they want you to remain in these ‘identity modes’ they created. Now, Jesus looked at the disciples and asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter’s response was immediate and complete: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven.” Yes, no one knows the Son except the Father and those who the Father chooses to reveal Him (Mt 11:27). Peter as flesh and blood was vulnerable, but his humility and openness to the Father earned him the exalted knowledge of the Son. If our lives are consumed by the pleasures of ‘flesh and blood’ we will definitely lack that true knowledge of Jesus, ourselves and things around that only God gives, even in the midst of changing times and situations.

Having blessed Peter, Jesus added, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” ‘Peter’ is now instituted as the foundational rock on which the Christian faith is to be sustained. Just as the Father’s revelation was made known through him, Jesus the Rock of Ages will sustain His Church through Peter. “The Lord is my rock and fortress...I take refuge in Him, my rock” (Ps 18:2).

Further, Jesus said to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” Jesus now transmits His own authority to Peter, whom He instituted as the foundational rock of the Church. Thus, the Church possesses within her the ‘sanctifying office’ through which the heavenly gates are unlocked for Christ’s faithful. Therefore, it is Christ who blesses when the Church blesses...

The authority of Jesus the Son of the living God, the Head of the Body the Church, is not diminished by His delegating His authority to Peter. Instead, in Peter, the Church possesses the ‘mind of Christ’ and speaks with the ‘voice of Christ.’ It is always the Church of Jesus Christ, with His power and authority. Moreover, the authority of ‘Peter’ the Head is not diminished when he delegates to Cardinals, Bishops, priests, deacons and ministers in the Church. But the one authority of Jesus Christ is spread out, and made readily available and accessible to all. So, in the blessing of the deacon we receive the blessing of Jesus.

Then, why are people afraid of delegating the little authority they possess? Every genuine authority issuing from God leads back to God, and is not afraid of transmitting itself to others. The fear of delegation is that the recipient might diminish the power of his master, and divert the ‘glory’ to himself. This happens when we operate as ‘flesh and blood.’ Lack of trust has ruined many relationships, families and institutions. We often live in fear and suspicion of each other. If the authority you have is not given by flesh and blood but by the living God, no one can diminish it nor take it away, rather, it will spread out and leads those it touches to salvation.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday 23^rd August, 2020.
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