Authority as Service

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B (21 October 2018)

Isaiah 53:10-11

Hebrews 4:14-16

Mark 10:35-45

"The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Peter Parker after being bitten by a genetically engineered "super spider" acquires super-human powers. You might already guess I'm speaking about the fictional character Spiderman. Though Peter Parker wants to use his super-hero skills for his selfish gains, it is his uncle Ben's statement that gives Peter (Spiderman) his direction and mission in his life. His uncle tells him, "With great power comes great responsibility." This is what we need to keep in mind, that power and authority are given to us for serving and helping others not for one's own gain.

Authority is so often a blatant exercise of power. Rarely is it seen as a service. We most often link authority with abuse of power, rather than committed service. Jesus in today's gospel is very clear. He wants his followers to think in terms of service rather than of authority. Authority devoid of authenticity is mere domination and manipulation. The nucleus of all authority should be truth and genuineness.

Jesus clearly spells out a new standard of greatness and status, stating that success in his kingdom is not measured by worldly standards. There are no win/lose standards, but only win/win standards. There are no upper/lower levels or superior/inferior tiers but only equality in dignity. All of us are created in God's image, we are all equal in dignity. The standard of greatness in God's kingdom is the standard of the cross. Greatness is all about letting go of one's ego; it is all about service. We serve God best by helping one another. We lend a helping hand to those in need. The poor can save us from our apathy (opposite of enthusiasm) and mediocrity. They can keep us on the right track, and give us meaning to our Christian lives.

Authority comes from God; we are obliged to obey those in authority at all costs except when they against God and truth. Caiaphas, we may say, was one of the villians in the plot that led to Jesus' crucifixion. He was the High Priest then. He had been corrupt and had made it to the top through the influence and manipulation of his father-in-law Annas. God's message though comes to Caiaphas, though he was corrupt. Caiaphas prophesizes about Jesus: “It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:50). At this point in the gospel, John the Evangelist comments, “Caiaphas did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one” (John 11:51-52). Even Caiaphas becomes part of God’s design. God can and does act through immoral or corrupt authority figures. If we are wondering whether to obey authority or not, this is a beautiful instance. Truth can come only from God, even if we perceive those in power are manipulating people and circumstances by using all kinds of intrigues, pressures and machinations in order to profit for themselves. We have a duty to disobey authority when they go against truth, morals, and faith. But in almost all other instances, I'd imagine, we have a duty to obey authority with all our heart (even when they are involved in dirty or manipulative politics).