20191113
POWER
AND AUTHORITY A GIFT TO BE RECEIVED WITH GRATITUDE
13 NOVEMBER,
2019, Wednesday, 32nd Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour:
Green.
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First reading
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Wisdom 6:1-11 ©
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Listen, kings, and understand;
rulers of remotest lands, take warning;
hear this, you who have thousands under
your rule,
who boast of your hordes of subjects.
For power is a gift to you from the Lord,
sovereignty is from the Most High;
he himself will probe your acts and
scrutinise your intentions.
If, as administrators of his kingdom, you
have not governed justly
nor observed the law,
nor behaved as God would have you behave,
he will fall on you swiftly and terribly.
Ruthless judgement is reserved for the
high and mighty;
the lowly will be compassionately
pardoned,
the mighty will be mightily punished.
For the Lord of All does not cower before
a personage,
he does not stand in awe of greatness,
since he himself has made small and great
and provides for all alike;
but strict scrutiny awaits those in power.
Yes, despots, my words are for you,
that you may learn what wisdom is and not
transgress;
for they who observe holy things holily
will be adjudged holy,
and, accepting instruction from them, will
find their defence in them.
Look forward, therefore, to my words;
yearn for them, and they will instruct
you.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 81(82):3-4,6-7 ©
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Arise, O God, to judge
the earth.
Do justice for the weak and the orphan,
defend the afflicted and the
needy.
Rescue the weak and the poor;
set them free from the hand of
the wicked.
Arise, O God, to judge
the earth.
I have said to you: “You are gods
and all of you, sons of the
Most High.”
And yet, you shall die like men,
you shall fall like any of the
princes.’
Arise, O God, to judge
the earth.
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Gospel Acclamation
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cf.2Th2:14
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News God called us
to share the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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1Th5:18
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Alleluia, alleluia!
For all things give thanks,
because this is what God expects you to do
in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 17:11-19 ©
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On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled
along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the
villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to
him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show
yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed.
Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his
voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a
Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine,
where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God,
except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way.
Your faith has saved you.’
POWER AND
AUTHORITY A GIFT TO BE RECEIVED WITH GRATITUDE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ WISDOM 6:1-11; PS 82:3-4,6-7; LK 17:11-19 ]
We often hear of leaders
abusing their authority for their selfish interests. This happens not just in the political or
corporate world but also in religious life. In fact, more so when the
powers invested in religious authority is even more absolute than political
powers, except in those countries that are ruled by dictators. It is
within this context that the book of Wisdom has much to remind us all, whether
we are leaders or simply persons vested with authority over others, which would
include most of us in different walks of life, states and positions in our
family, community and organization.
The Word of God warns
those of us who abuse their authority and power in governing. “If, as administrators of his kingdom, you
have not governed justly nor observed the law, nor behaved as God would have
you behave, he will fall on you swiftly and terribly. Ruthless judgement is
reserved for the high and mighty; the lowly will be compassionately pardoned,
the mighty will be mightily punished. For the Lord of All does not cower before
a personage, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since he himself has made
small and great and provides for all alike; but strict scrutiny awaits those in
power.” Indeed, great is the fall of those who fail to exercise their
power and authority in a way that serves justice to all of humanity, protect
the weak and the poor, and promote peace and harmony in their community and in
the world. Greater the authority held, greater is the responsibility; and
greater is the accountability.
Why do leaders and those
in authority take advantage of those under their charge and use them for their
benefit and interest rather than for the service of the community? Simply
because they fail to realize that “power is a gift to you from the Lord, sovereignty is from the Most High” and
that “he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions.” When we
fail to realize that the power which have been invested in us comes from God as
a gift for us, we fall into the sin of pride. Indeed, often those holding
positions of power become egoistic and think highly of themselves. They
think that they are the most intelligent, the smartest and better than anyone
else. So used to commanding people to do things for them, being served,
being honoured and praised, they begin to think that they are all important and
powerful. They begin to enjoy their position of honour and glory,
indulging in all the benefits that come with the office that they no longer
have a heart for others. They begin to see those under their command as
tools they can use to enhance their power, wealth, glory and position.
But for those who
realize that power and authority is a gift from God for the service of His
people, they exercise power on behalf of God. They know that the powers they have do not
belong to them; that they are given for a time and for a purpose. We
cannot cling on to our office and power for life. We will need to let them
go the day when we can no longer serve God and the people effectively.
This is when leaders must have humility and self-awareness to step down
graciously and allow younger and better people to take over his office rather
than cling to it and stymie the progress of the nation, organization or
community as a consequence. The psalmist reminds us what the Lord says:
“I have said to you: ‘You are gods and all of you, sons of the Most High. And
yet, you shall die like men, you shall fall like any of the princes.”
Indeed, we have much to
learn from the story of the Ten Lepers. In the first place, we should use
our power for the good of others. The psalmist says, “Do justice for the weak and the
orphan, defend the afflicted and the needy. Rescue the weak and the poor; set
them free from the hand of the wicked.” Jesus never used His power and
authority for Himself but always for the service of the people. As
a leader, He was not just compassionate but merciful. He did not just
feel with the poor, the sick, the marginalized but He was also a man of mercy.
It is not enough just to feel with the suffering but do nothing to lift them
out of their misery. Mercy is compassion in action when people are so
touched by the pains of their fellowmen, so identified with their pains that
they are moved to do all they can to remove the suffering of their
fellowmen. This explains why when the Ten Lepers saw the Lord, “They
stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus Master! Take pity on us.'” They
cried out for mercy because they were asking not just for physical healing but
also spiritual healing. With an act of faith and humility in desperation,
they appealed to the Lord’s compassion to heal them.
It is significant that
Jesus was never obsessed with His authority. Although He had the power to heal, He respected
the authorities and customs of His day. He did not need to make His
authority felt and announce to everyone. Instead, He told them, “Go
and show yourselves to the priests.” To be accepted back into the community,
they had to go to the priests for verification of their cure from
leprosy. It was also a test of faith and obedience to authority.
They trusted in the Lord’s promise that they are healed. The ten lepers
in faith and obedience to the Lord went to show themselves to the priests even
though at that point of time, no healing had yet begun. But “as they were
going away they were cleansed.” Those who submit to legitimate
authority in faith will find healing and peace in life. Rebellion comes
from pride.
However, we are told
that only one who was a Samaritan returned to give thanks to the Lord. “Finding himself cured, one of them
turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet
of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan.” What happened to the
other nine? Perhaps, they were so overjoyed and busy celebrating with
their loved ones and forgot to thank the Lord. They were only focused on
themselves and their physical recovery. But they forgot that without the
Lord, they would not be restored to fullness of health. This is true also
for those of us who have received blessings from God, including position of
authority. Instead of being thankful and humbled that God has chosen us
and count us worthy to be His representative, we are more focused on the glory
and honor conferred on us. Indeed, there are many leaders who might even
be doing good, but they credit all the good they do to themselves and their
ingenuity. The Samaritan remembered his unworthiness.
Those who are not
grateful to God for what they have received will eventually take them for
granted. They will not use
them well and even if they do, it will be for themselves and not for
others. Ingratitude leads us to be proud of our achievements, arrogant
and intolerant towards others. Only those who know that whatever they
have are given to them for the service of others, will use their gifts well,
responsibly and generously. When we are grateful for something that we do
not deserve, we will treasure the gift, protect it, guard it and make use of it
to the fullest for His greater glory and the good of all, since what we have do
not belong to us, but given on trust for all. For this reason, the Lord
said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’
Only the Samaritan was saved though all were cured. He had the right
disposition of gratitude which springs from his humility. He would use
his life well for the good of others and no longer for himself because his life
now belongs to God.
Hence, it is critical
that leaders must always examine themselves, their motives and intentions in
what they do so that they will not end up serving themselves. The Word of God says, “Listen,
kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning; hear this, you
who have thousands under your rule, who boasts of your hordes of
subjects. Yes, despots, my words are for you, that you may learn what
wisdom is and not transgress; for they who observe holy things holily will be
adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in
them. Look forward, therefore, to my words; yearn for them, and they will
instruct you.” Leaders and those in authority must constantly turn to the
Word of God, so that they can learn from God how to exercise authority in His
name, an authority that is exercised in compassion, mercy and justice.
Hence, leaders must always make time to thank God for all that God is doing
through them. Knowing our limitations, we will rely on God’s power.
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All
Rights Reserved
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