Hello everyone. This is a week of empowerment. The authority of Christ, the rock of ages, empowers us. The word of God today is about our authority in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. All who draw close to our Lord Jesus in spirit and truth, who know and accept him with their hearts, are given spiritual authority to be exercised at the service of God and His people.
The first reading tells us about Isaiah’s prophesy on how God would demote Shebna from the position of master of the king’s palace and promote Eliakim.
In the gospel, Jesus gave Simon Peter the authority of the Church after his inspired reply to his question about who they thought He was. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. By confessing who Jesus is, he was promoted as the head of the apostles.
In the second reading, St. Paul told the Romans that all powers and all things come from God, through God, and are in God. We cannot fathom the depth of God’s knowledge and wisdom. We don’t know God’s motives. We can’t comprehend God’s wisdom and how He chooses anyone. We cannot counsel God.
Here are some points for meditation:
- God gives authority to those who know and confess Him.
- God gives his authority not for self-aggrandizement but for the service of His people in humility.
- God gives authority to those He wills and withdraws it from those who abuse it.
- We have an authority in the Word of God, which we shouldn’t underestimate.
- Every authority we have received in Christ comes with responsibility.
We should always pray for those in positions of authority. Christ is the solid foundation and should be brought back into every community aspect.
Prayer: Lord our God, help us know how powerful we are by knowing your word and your Son and be courageous to confess Him in our lives. Amen. God bless you.