A Teaching Father
If we wish honour or pre-eminence, let it be in service, rather than in being served. If we aspire to be Number One, let us be the first to forgive, to heal, to minister. We can’t escape the message. Jesus is getting at something here.
We are brothers and sisters. That’s that. In this matter of grace and salvation, there is no one of us above the other, even though some of us, by the grace of God, are asked to read the book, preach the word, offer the consecration, or pray the absolution.
(Fr. John Kavanaugh, S.J.)
Authority and Authenticity
“Authority” in Greek is “exousia”. Exousia means literally “out of our being.” True authority therefore does not come from titles. Authority comes from our being. For example, I think most of us priests are very conscious that when a priest is appointed pastor of a parish, he has got the title to be sure. They may even call him “Father”. But if the priest does not have “exousia”, if he doesn’t lead and love his people out of his very being, he is pastor in title only. This is a helpful reminder to me personally because I know I am far from perfect. We would be remiss, however, to think that Jesus’ critique is just for ministers.
(Bishop Frank Schuster)