By What Authority?

Gospel: Matthew 21: 23-27

The religious leaders want to know the authority by which Jesus does and says what he does.  They could not answer the question when it came to John the Baptist, and they are left bewildered time and again at Jesus.  Jesus is careful in his answer.  He does not claim God's authority.  That is risky business, and he does not claim the authority from any of the rabbinic schools either.  He simply leaves the question unanswered, as he does so often.

Jesus went about from town to town healing people, liberating them from their demons, and nourishing them at table.  He taught about the mercy of God and encouraged others to extend mercy to others in their lives.  Jesus saw a need and met it.  His authority was love and mercy, for God is love, and God desires mercy and not sacrifice.  If Jesus were to claim God's authority it would be on those grounds, living in response to the love God extends to the whole world.

If we are to speak of God's authority, it must be done along these lines.  God is love; God desires mercy.  God has extended love and mercy to all people.  To respond to that love and mercy by living in a way that extends love and mercy to others is the authentic life of religion.  It is the only path that can be seen as acting and speaking on God's authority.  God's authority is not a line of succession as worldly rulers have.  God's authority is acting and living love and mercy in the world.