Daily Reflection – 12/15/2025
Sacred Scripture
When he had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things. (Matthew 21:23-27)
Reflection
Today, we encounter a tense exchange between Jesus and the chief priests and elders. They demand to know by what authority He teaches and acts. Jesus, in turn, asks them about the baptism of John—was it from heaven or of human origin? Their inability to answer exposes their fear, their concern for reputation, and their lack of understanding of true authority. They are trapped in the logic of power, not the freedom of divine permission.
Authority, in the biblical sense, is not about domination or control. It is not the ability to bend others to our will. Authority is permission—God’s permission to act on His behalf, to be agents of His kingdom, to release life and potential in others. Jesus embodies this perfectly. He does not coerce; He invites. He does not demand service; He serves. His authority is rooted in love, in the desire to empower others to become fully alive, fully themselves, fully children of God.
The priests and elders missed this clue. They equated authority with social standing, with the privileges of their office, with the ability to protect their own interests. But Jesus shows that genuine authority is exercised for the sake of others. It is always outward‑looking, always life‑giving. In the exercise of power, we seek our own advantage. In the exercise of authority, we seek the flourishing of others.
Think of those who have held true authority in your life. They are not the ones who controlled or dominated you. They are the ones who inspired you, who opened new horizons, who called forth gifts you did not know you had. They expanded your world, gave you courage, and helped you live differently. That is the authority of Jesus—an authority that liberates, empowers, and transforms.
Every day, God authorizes us to enter His vineyard. He shares His authority with us, sending us into the world to act in His name, to bring life, hope, and healing. No one is without authority. The difference lies in whether we recognize and exercise it. God waits for us to see the authority He has given us, to embrace it, and to live it out.
Yet when we look at our world, we see how often this authority has been rejected or distorted. Too many have twisted the words of Jesus to suit their prejudices or ambitions. Too many have turned faith into a marketplace, bartering prayers for favors, treating God as a transaction rather than a Father. This is not the authority of Christ. It is the misuse of power.
So the question remains: What do we care about? Are we like religious leaders, concerned with reputation, privilege, and comfort? Or do we care about the honor of God, who authorizes us to live His words and work in His vineyard? The invitation is clear. The authority has been given. The only question is our response. Will we say, with courage and faith, “I will”?
Prayer of The Day
“Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let your light shine in my heart and in my mind that I may grow in understanding the truth of your word and find joy and freedom in living according to it.”
Daily Note
The coming of God’s kingdom or reign on the earth inevitably leads to conflict – a conflict of allegiance to God’s will or my will, God’s justice or the world’s way of playing fair, God’s standard of absolute moral truth or truth relative to what I want to believe is good and useful for the time being. Jesus promises that those who seek to live according to God’s truth will find true joy, freedom, and happiness both now and forever.
