Authority
/By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? - Matthew 21:23
I was reading a passage from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians this morning, and stopped to puzzle over his words to them: “The kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.” The church of Corinth was in the midst of great conflict, with various different people claiming to be in charge. Paul seems to be challenging those who are gaining followers. In effect, he’s saying, “You think you have power? When I get back there I’ll show you power!”
Paul was indeed a powerful apostle - a powerful preacher and a powerful leader. But this is not the power he’s talking about here. He’s reminding them where true power really is, and that is with God. People can talk a good game, but no matter how convincing their words, no one on earth has the power of God. The only true power on earth is God’s power coming through us.
Of course, everyone on earth carries some kind of power and authority. A large, strong athlete clearly has physical power. An employer with many employees has power over all who work under them. Someone in a uniform, whether that’s a fire fighter, a nurse or an army general, is clearly a person of power and authority. The American president is often referred to in the press as “the most powerful man in the world.”
In church we have bishops, priests and deacons who’ve been granted spiritual authority. The altar guild has authority over the vessels, linens and altar. The digital disciples have authority over our weekly broadcast streams. The property team has the authority to make recommendations for needed maintenance and repairs, the finance team has the authority to recommend how to fund projects and the vestry has the authority to approve the projects and expenditures. Each church member has personal authority to step into their own responsiblities to support the church in whatever ways they are able to do so.
We all have earthly authority in one way or another - at church, at our jobs, in our family, out in our community. We can be in charge of many different things in this life. Even a child is in charge of cleaning their own room. And an important way to live a faithful life is to learn how to step up into our responsibilities and claim the authority over our own lives that God has granted us.
But no matter how diligent we are at fulfilling our responsibilities, and no matter how well we manage to fulfill them, the true power is not our own. As people of faith, we recognize that our areas of giftedness and ability are all God given. Faithful humility requires us to admit that all we have needed God’s hand has provided. In the end, the power belongs to God. (and in the beginning, and every moment in between, too)
Both Paul and Jesus in these two readings are reminding us of this. The only earthly power we have that is worth anything is the power to say yes to God’s call. Then, once we say yes, we’ll be equipped to keep going in God’s power rather than our own. And, as Jesus says in this Sunday’s gospel, it’s not just saying yes to God. It’s doing yes that matters. It’s the one who actually GOES into the vineyard that is doing the real yes.
The kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power. But the good news, it’s not our own power. We don’t have the power to do all the faithful things God calls us to do - to step into the responsibilities we’ve be given in this life and on this earth (both the responsibilities we’re aware of and the ones waiting for us to notice them!) But what we do have the power to do is to trust in God’s power to help us do whatever we’re called to do, and then to start moving forward one step at a time.
