How to view authority

HOW TO VIEW AUTHORITY

Mt. 21:28-32

Not many people like to be told what to do.  We have become especially disillusioned with people in authority.  Experience has taught us that they say one thing and do another.  They don’t practise what they preach.  When we see the way those in authority are looking after our world, we come to the conclusion that they haven’t done a very good job.

Some, if not most of us, have at some time felt that obedience required by authority tends to limit our freedom.  We can’t always do the things we want to do and the way we want to do them.  At work we have to do our job the way our boss wants it done.  When we drive, we have to drive as the Highway Code demands.  If we are a member of a team sport, we have to play the way the coach tells us.  We just can’t get away from authority, and some would claim that it restricts them.

If every generation has felt this way, it is not surprising that there have been revolutions against authority.  I would like to think that these revolts have not been a blatant attack on authority itself, but because of the incompetence of the people wielding authority.

In today’s Gospel Jesus touches on the subject of authority.  He gives us a brief parable about a man with two sons, one of whom speaks the language of obedience to his father but offers no actions of obedience.  The other son speaks the language of disobedience, but later repents and acts obediently.  “Which of the two sons did the will of the father?” Jesus asks.  The answer is obvious and it convinces us that words are not enough, they must be backed up with loving obedience.

Jesus teaches us the right attitude to authority.  We must always look to Him for guidance and we must follow His example.  He gave us the perfect example of obedience.  He was God, yet became a Man and subjected Himself in loving obedience to the authority of His Father.  Did that restrict Him?  Some people would say just look where it led Him, to a Cross.  We, His followers, don’t see it that way.  It was precisely because of His loving obedience that His Father exalted Him and placed Him at His right hand in Heaven.

If we want personal fulfilment in our lives, we too have to follow the example of Jesus.  What is it that the Father wants of us?  The Father has revealed to us through His Church, and, we hope, through our parents, how we are to conduct our lives.  That means that loving obedience has to play a dominant role in our lives.  Like Jesus we can place ourselves totally in the capable hands of our loving Father.  We can be sure of the wisdom of God.  He has to be the expert in our lives and His guidance will never lead us astray.  Look at it in this light.  If we want to make some alterations in our home, we call in a reputable builder.  We tell him what we want.  He draws up plans and gives us his advice.  If we are sensible we say, “Look, I’m no builder.  You know what is best and I’ll go along with you.”  Is there anyone wiser than God?  We would be stupid to act as though we were wiser than Him. 

We can also be sure of the love of God.  God has proved His love for us over and over again, in creating us, becoming Man for us, dying on a Cross to save us, leaving Himself in the Eucharist and preparing a place for us in Heaven.  Once we are sure of those two things, the wisdom and love of God, then we need never fear being restricted and losing our freedom.  We begin to live the slogan, “God’s will is our peace.”  Why there is so much unhappiness in our world today is because so many people do not live under the loving authority of God.  They are convinced that they can ignore God and live their lives the way they want.

How do we get to know how God wants us to live our lives?  Like Jesus we will discover God’s will through prayer.  Jesus spent so much time with His Father in prayer, not only because He loved Him, but also to be certain what His Father wanted Him to do.  When through prayer we discover what God’s will is for us we may find that it does not always bring us peace and tranquillity.  This is because we are sinful and prone to evil and our will is often at odds with God’s will.  If we are sensible, we will realise as I said, ‘God’s will is our peace.’

Lord Jesus, we may have problems with human authority, simply because it is human and may not be best for us.  But we must respond to the authority of God with perfect obedience.  Then our reward will be like Yours, a place in Heaven. 

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