Reading
Matthew 21:23-27
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Comment
The question of the chief priests of the temple regarding the authority of Jesus refers to the expulsion of the sellers from the outer courtyard of the Temple, his preaching, and the healings performed. Jesus is not a priest according to the law, he is not a Levite, nor a scribe. He is the heavenly priest and "he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once and for all when he offered himself" (Heb 7:27).
Jesus' authority comes directly from the Father; while the high priests, who falsely answer that they do not know where John's authority comes from, show themselves ignorant and incapable of teaching with authority.
This Gospel episode asks us Christians once again an essential question: where does the Church's authority come from? We know that this question has generated divisive answers throughout history, but we can't help but ask it and seek an answer. Otherwise, we would fall into the same ambiguity as the Jewish authorities with whom Jesus confronted.
While Protestants recognize Scripture as the supreme authority, Catholics add to this the magisterium of the church and the authority of the bishop of Rome; the Orthodox, on the other hand, refer to the declarations of ecumenical councils and sacred synods.
Faced with so many different interpretations of Christianity, one could remain confused, but one thing is certain: the Church's authority comes directly from her head: Jesus Christ, who gives her life with the Holy Spirit, who will guide us to the eschatological fulfillment of history. The Church is not an orphan, she is not a sheep without a shepherd and she does not need a "vicar", because she is not left to herself. Christ is her guide and speaks to his people through the example of his own life, he communicates himself to every believer through the baptismal grace and the nourishment of the Holy Supper.
Prayer
Revive with your Spirit, o Lord, your holy Church, and guide her towards unity, so that your disciples may be one with you. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
