By What Authority?

Gospel: Matthew 21: 23-27

Human beings are obsessed with the topic of authority.  The Pharisees in today's Gospel portion want to know by what authority Jesus does the things he does; it is a question frequently asked of Jesus.  As in today's reading, Jesus often avoids answering the question, but does so clearly when Pilate asks it. "The reason I was born, the reason I came into the world, was to testify to the truth.  He who listens to the truth hears my voice." and

Truth and goodness are criteria all their own.  They require no other authority to speak on their behalf, and it is to these that Jesus appeals in his last days on earth.  Appealing to divine authority has no value at all if one is not good, if one is not truthful, for God is truth, God is goodness itself.  To claim divine authority while not being good and truthful is to mock God, and to mock goodness and truth itself.  

Our lives, too, must be ones that appeal to truth and goodness.  We recognize the times in our lives when we have failed to do so, and this time of penance encourages us to remedy those faults.  In accepting the mercy of God we likewise commit to being merciful and loving to others as well.  This is our path to truth and goodness, our path for living the life John and Jesus both preached and lived.