When we are young we sometimes attempt to tell our brothers and sisters what to do. This usually results in an immediate demand to reveal our source of authority. “Who made you the boss of me?” We can usually come up with some pretty dubious sources of authority. The most dubious might be, “I’m bigger than you.” An appeal to might makes right and pretty certain to be challenged in a fight. Another might be, “I’m older than you.” While age does at times bring wisdom and wisdom carries its own authority, when you are nine or ten there is not usually a great deal of wisdom stored up. Respecting our elders does indeed elicit a certain claim to authority. “I have more experience.” Past success and experience can be a claim to authority. As we get older we might use some other dubious claims to authority such as social status, “I have more money than you.” Money doesn’t always buy the right to lord it over others. “I have a degree.” Often, we give authority to those who have a higher education or training in a certain area. There could be some real authority in an advanced degree and higher education but not always. “I have been appointed.” Receiving an appointment from someone in a higher position is a real source of authority. Society appoints certain people to carry authority in our culture. These persons can be elected or appointed, such as law enforcement or civil servants. These authority figures may at times abuse their position of authority.

Authority is something that we struggle with all of our lives. We are not always comfortable with those who claim authority over us. Authority needs to rest on more than a mere claim. Others need to recognize and respect the authority that a person is entrusted with. Authority is the foundation of leadership. One would think that God, the Father of all creation, would have the greatest claim of all to authority. However, there are many people who do not recognize the authority of God. Accepting God’s authority requires faith. The authority of God calls for the response of an obedience of faith from all. The first tablet of the Ten Commandments establishes and protects God’s authority. No false gods, not using God’s name in vain, keeping holy the Sabbath, honoring our father and mother are all appeals to recognizing the proper authority of God. Still, the Father’s authority has not been properly established on the earth. Many people experience God as being absent and they don’t accept the authority of someone who is absent.

God sends his Son, Jesus, into the world to establish his authority, to proclaim his kingdom. In Jesus, the authority of God is made visible to us in a new way, more powerful than kings, priests and prophets of old (all legitimate positions of authority). The Father gives to his Son the fullness of his power and authority. Jesus tells his apostles, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 29,18-20) He prays to the Father at the Last Supper, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (Jn 17,1-3) He answers his detractors, “That you may know that the Son of man possesses authority on earth to forgive sins (he said to the sick of palsy), I say to you, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house”” (Mk. 2:10). He answers Pilate, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above.” (Jn 19,11)

Jesus has been given true authority by the Father. He has authority on earth and in heaven. The authority of Jesus is the authority of love and truth. Jesus demonstrates his true authority in getting things done. He heals, he teaches truth, he governs, he defeats death and he becomes the way to the Father. The people that followed Jesus recognized that he exercised authority in a new and exciting way. His was not a dubious claim to authority but a true demonstration of power and authority. The people saw in Jesus a new authority, “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, not like the scribes…”What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” (Mk 1,22;27)
Jesus passes on his authority to his apostles and so to the Church: “He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9,1f) The person of Jesus and his presence in the Church is a witness to true authority. It is given as St. Paul says, “made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith.” (Rom 16,26) Jesus has established his authority, now he awaits our response in the obedience of faith.