Arrogant Authority
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Malachi 1:14--2:2,8-10
Psalm 131:1-3
1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13
Matthew 23:1-12
A reflection on today's Scripture:
Jesus tells the people that the Pharisees have a righteous power. They sit on the seat of
Moses. They may have usurped this authority, it may not be due them. However, God has let
it be, and therefore they should be listened to as legitimate sources of authority.
In the same way, we may occasionally have to subdue our own opinions about the ways things
should be to the legitimate secular or religious authorities. However, Jesus cautions that
we should not practice what we see them doing. Certainly many of us can think of recent
examples of having to obey the rule of law but not desiring to follow or to allow our
children to follow the examples of persons in high places.
But Jesus points out that to defy this authority is prideful, and in many ways worse than
the arrogant authority. We can assume that what the Pharisees taught was, in fact, good
teaching. It was what they practiced that was full of pride. To presume to know better and
to not be guided by legitimate leaders would make us fools. But to copy their actions
would make us worse--felons.
Often I find myself in the position of questioning a teaching or a rule or a thought, and
then by the grace of God I am reminded that I am far less than two thousand years of
apostolic succession. The legitimate authority of the Holy Mother Church must be held in
highest regard, and when it comes to the point of disagreement, we need to peer deeply
into our own hearts and see where we deviate.
- JuandelaCruz TOC