August 25, 2002

Authority figures abound in most of our lives. We can point to parents, presidents, priests, police, professors, and popes. We authorize them to lead us and blame them when things go wrong. The authority figures in today's Scriptures take seriously the divine source and purpose of their authority.

As Catholics, we take this Gospel reading and our authority figures pretty seriously. We believe that the revelation given to Peter continues to be safeguarded and developed by the successors of Peter and the Apostles. We believe that Jesus "authorized" them with Peter to hold the "keys to the kingdom of heaven." But, this authorization is accompanied by a warning - their judgments will have eternal consequences. So, they must exercise their authority with care in the Spirit of Christ and for the building up of God's holy people.

We cannot stop there, however. God's people are not supposed to rely solely on authority figures. We have become the body of Christ in the Eucharist. We are so "authorized" to bring the presence of Christ into the world. Our families and friends look to us as models and guides in the faith. Our Pastors and parishes need our gifts of faith inspiration and leadership. How can we claim our authority as followers of Christ and exercise it for the good of the Church?

Jesus promised that "the gates of the nether world shall not prevail against the Church." By this we believe that the God who revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Messiah will not desert the Church. The Spirit will guide each of us and all of us together to eternal union with God. God is the source of all human authority - our ultimate "authority figure" whose purpose will not be jeopardized.

SO THE QUESTION: WHO ARE THE AUTHORITY FIGURES IN YOUR LIFE? WHO LOOKS TO YOU AS AN AUTHORITY FIGURE?

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