On Authority

What does it means to be in authority?  Is it being the center of commands, rules, and regulations?  Is it being the most popular, honorable, excellent, and glorious of all?  Or, is it to be the first initiator of what it means to serve with honesty and sincerity and to be in the service for the welfare of the common good?  Jesus in the last Sunday’s gospel showed to us the real nature of authority, i.e. service.  Why authority is service and not fame? Authority is service because it is not self-oriented but people-oriented and it does not brag.  It enhances relationships and at the same time mutual understanding.  Its attention is more focused on what is for the betterment of the people’s welfare than self-proclamation.

Jesus has shown to us last Sunday what authority really means in the light of service.  Authority cannot be what it is and what it must be without service as its core and firm foundation.  Using the last Sunday gospel as our lens and point of reference for reflection, let us focus more outside of ourselves and observe; what, then is the real identity of an authority nowadays?  As I reflect upon the real identity of an authority today it seems too far from what it must supposed to be, i.e. its interconnectedness with Jesus’ authority as model.  People nowadays, including me, expect that a person in authority should be influential, powerful, in control of everything, and has the word of honor.  But, as I encountered the gospel last Sunday which highlights Jesus’ authority, my knowledge and impression about an authority has changed.

Aside from service, the gospel pinpointed to us that Jesus authority means humility and being down to earth.  We cannot attain the real fullness and essence of authority unless we humble and immersed ourselves with the reality of today.  Nowadays, majority of people in authority have failed to show its real identity.  Example of this is the Philippines’ government which until now the cycle of corruption and insensitivities on its system itself is still rampant and becoming like a disease which not only kills the public trust but Truth per se.  When will the real identity and essence of authority be totally reveal and realized?  I think, its real identity and essence will only be revealed and realized in the public sphere unless the people in and with authority considers the great importance of Jesus as the model of genuine authority that serves; being and becoming humble, honest, and down to earth.

On “Repaying” what belongs to God

The Sunday gospel presents to us Jesus’ own definition of authority and obedience that which we need to consider as we deal in our ordinary events of our life.  Revisiting the gospel, we witness how Jesus was tested by the Pharisees on his opinion about paying taxes with the authority.  Actually, the gospel does not highlights its message about paying our taxes rightly (although the gospel of today may sound relevant nowadays especially on our obligation to pay our taxes), rather the gospel pinpoints about the authority of God over our lives.  For God’s perspective, leadership is not all about “we” and our capacity to lead the people in our own standards.  Leadership for God is all about repaying to Him what belongs to Him by simply letting ourselves to be directed by Him as we also do the same, i.e. directing the people towards Him.

God does not deny the fact that we must do our responsibilities for our State.  What he doesn’t like in each and every one of us especially to our leaders is to deny His role as guide and as reminder once we do our duties for He is the source of good leadership.  As I reflect upon these insights that I gain in letting the gospel speaks to my awareness, I could say that leadership nowadays is too far from its real essence and meaning, i.e. God’s leadership.  Since from the beginning God made us aware that leadership is not all about self-glorification, but it’s all about guiding and directing people towards Him.  Its root word “lead” would testify that authority of a leader should not be self-centered and egoistic; rather it should be people-centered and rooted on selfless love.  In other words, repaying to God what belongs to God it is not only giving what is due to Him, but it is also all about leading and setting an example to the people guided by His example as the real essence of a genuine authority.

As I continue to reflect upon the gospel this is what strike me most; someday I will be given an opportunity to be in authority and lead.  I should not always forget that a successful leader is God-fearing.  Without the presence of God in an authority it will be useless and a failure.  Indeed, the role of God in every authority is significant.  Without His presence in every authority that we encounter in life for sure everything will be a great disaster and chaos just like what’s happening nowadays in our society.