By What Authority - Family Reflection Video

As we enter this First Week of Ordinary Time, we are given the image of Jesus teaching in the synagogue. And as He teaches, it's clear that there is something special about Him. He teaches with a new authority. 


A mob of London protesters grew restless as tension mounted by the minute—like watching a balloon expanding beyond its capacity. The police stood by, waiting for the explosion. An older chief of police arrived. He walked slowly toward the seething mob. When he reached the first row of protesters, they fell silent and stepped aside politely. He walked right through the crowd unharmed. The chief's presence was like letting the air out of an overstretched balloon. Later a man asked him, "Weren't you afraid?" "No!" replied the chief. "I represented the king of England, and they knew it." He had authority. 

In today's Gospel, Jesus represented his heavenly Father, the King of the Universe, and people knew it. His authority was growth-giving, affirmative, positive, and helpful. People experienced it when they listened to Him in their synagogue. Hearing Him, they began to see their possibilities. He gave them hope the scribes didn't offer them. He didn't talk down to them, as the scribes were accustomed to doing. He treated them as friends and equals. He didn't flatter them. He told them to be realistic about themselves. 

In fact, they had to be more realistic about themselves than they had ever been before. God called them to more extraordinary things than they ever had thought possible. When asked who influenced them most, people sometimes say their parents, teachers, or someone from their childhood. Sometimes the influence may have been negative. However, as soon as someone says: "As my mother always used to say..." you can be pretty sure that what follows will be something that positively influences the speaker's life. She will be one of the great ones in our lives, who made us feel great and helped us grow—whose authority we respected.  

Following the example of Jesus, let us focus on developing our authority by maintaining our integrity, deepening our knowledge, developing our God-given talents, and connecting ourselves with God through personal prayer and reflection. Then our lives and words will have authority that people will pay attention to. 

• Today's Mass Readings

• Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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