On this day we celebrate the memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church. In our daily Mass we finished reading the gospel narrative (Mt 21:23-27). In it, there is a line describing the reaction of the crowd that “When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him….“By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” “…He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things”
What does it mean that Jesus spoke “with authority”? The Greek word translated here as “authority” is ἐξουσίαν (exousian), which means “to (speak) out of one’s being or substance.”
It then means that one who has authority is one who speaks of what he knows by experience. He is not just repeating what others have said, nor is he simply quoting slogans or common sayings. He speaks from his own substance, from his own experience.
Jesus is distinguishes himself from the scribes, who were influential for quoting only one another or other reputable, safe sources. In and of itself, this is good. But if it merely stops there, then what makes preaching any different from just staying at home and reading a book?
Too many Christians, including some of our Catholic preachers, are content to live and preach by quoting others rather than teaching by and from experience. Too many are satisfied with repeating what others have said rather than speaking out of what they personally know, have seen, and have experienced.
To preach with authority (exousia) for me means to be able to proclaim the Word of God with personal knowledge and experience. It means being able to say, “What the Lord and the Church have always proclaimed, I know personally; For I have tested and experienced the Word of God in the laboratory of my own life, and found it to be true. And now I speak to you, not merely of what others have said, but what I know, believe and experience to be true. Out of the substance of my own being (exousia) I proclaim this truth to you.” This is what it means to preach with authority (exousia). Jesus did not simply quote what others said. He said what He personally knew.
What about you and me? Are you able to speak with authority? There are times we had an opportunity to speak but we did not. Well, do you know what the Lord is doing in your life? Have you personally experienced the truth of what the Scriptures and the Church have always taught? Or are you just quoting slogans, passages, and what others have said?
Note that the Scriptures and the authoritative teachings of the Church are the essential foundation of what we know. The catechism is the compendium of our Catholic Theology. Please don’t go out and invent your own religion! But do you personally know that the Faith is true? How? Do you speak to your children of what you know or do you merely say, “The Church says … “? Clearly you are to say what the Church says, but to teach with authority means that you know and have experienced that what the Church says is true, and that you can personally attest to it. This is the basis of preaching and teaching with authority.
To teach with authority for me also entails faith in action. This is our call/ministry as Gratia Vobis family and it resonates with our values to “equip people to be active instruments of God’s love, healing, and unity. Hence our core values—Cross-cultural, Christ-centered, Grace, Love and Unity in Diversity”
Pray especially for preachers of our Faith, teachers, and parents that we may find the Gospel and the Lord in our own lives that we may connect the dots and preach with the authority that comes from the lived and substantial experience of these in our lives and with the Psalmist today we say: “Teach me your ways O lord”
Rev.fr Dr Nnaemeka paschal Ajuka.
May God continue to be blessing you for the good work you’re doing for the faithful.