Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Following the reading of our weekday liturgies can be like channel surfing on television. While we were celebrating the Birth of John the Baptist – “watching another channel” -- we missed the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, which ordinarily appears on Thursday of the 12^th week of ordinary time.

We missed Jesus’ parable of the houses built on rock and on sand, and Matthew’s concluding remark: When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

He was hot! Smoking! What better time to approach him and demand a miracle: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Of course he did heal the man. At that point he could have walked on water! (Wait a minute. He did walk on water!)

As I have reflected on these scripture readings the last few months I am struck again by the authority of Jesus. It is presented to us in many ways, with his signs and wonders, his challenge of authority, preference for the poor and despised, his parables, teachings, arguments and riddles. We will hear as we move into Matthew’s gospel of his prophecies and curses.

Jesus’ authority is essentially non-negotiable. You cannot know, love or respect the man unless you accept his authority over you. Jesus has friends and enemies, but no acquaintances.

His authority governs not only your public life – we’ve heard his teaching about almsgiving, prayer and fasting – but also your inmost heart. You are permitted neither to take your neighbor’s spouse or goods, nor even to covet them in your secret heart.

His authority applies to our worship on Sunday and our work on Monday. It governs our civic and familial life. It directs our diet, recreation, sexuality, close friendships and casual acquaintances, study, work and rest.

The young man Henry David Thoreau famously said, “He governs best who governs least.” That may be a fine premise for democratic governments but it does not apply to Jesus’ authority over us.

If many of our fellow citizens ignore his claims on them, we can hardly blame them. For the best of us it is frightening, breath-taking and beautiful.