“I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19).  

The major theme for this 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on the authority of God who is the ultimate source of all authority and shares it with the elected civil and ecclesial rulers to serve His people for the material and spiritual welfare in His Kingdom.

Even though authority is often associated with power, they are not the same. Power means a person’s capacity or ability to exert their will, domination, and control over someone else, exercised by an external force. On the other hand, authority is the formal and often legal right that a person holds to make decisions and give commands to others, exercised by internal conviction and integration, like influence that affects the thinking and behavior of people. Therefore, one with power may not be necessarily the one with authority. However, one with authority can exercise rightfully the power.

In the Old Testament, all authority is ascribed to God who shares it to leaders like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the prophets, the priests, the kings, etc. In the New Testament, Jesus is the one with authority: (1) to preach, (2) to forgive sins, (3) to cast out demons and to cure illnesses, (4) to interpret the Law, and (5) to work on the Sabbath. When Jesus exercises His authority, He does so in the manner of a servant to bring others to know the saving power of God.

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to obey God’s authority, to follow Jesus Christ more closely, to repent our sins, to exercise our Christian stewardship, to use our time, treasure, and talents to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves, participating in the works of mercy, to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.  

How can we help each other accept and experience Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, surrendering all our lives, rendering humble and loving services, exercising prudently His authority?

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.