Sermon: "Authentic Authority"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

Yesterday marked another tragedy in the life of our nation. Indeed, we remember and pray for those who lost their lives in the Columbia Shuttle disaster - and for their families. This is indeed a sad time for them, for many others, and for our nation.

Earlier in the week though, we watched the renewal of an American tradition. Prior to the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, the President was announced on the floor of Congress. Then, when he stood at the podium, the Speaker of the House repeated these traditional words: “Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and the distinct honor of presenting to you the President of the United States.” With that introduction - and with much pomp and ceremony - the person often referred to as the most powerful man in the world was presented. And what a grand presentation it always is!

Today we gather in recognition of another presentation - the feast day of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. And this one is a bit different. A humble Jewish family fulfills an obligation of their faith. They bring their firstborn child to the Temple. They present him as a tangible indication of their dedication and obedience to God. Indeed, by their actions, they dedicate their child and his life to God and to the work of God in the world.

I want us to hold this contrast of presentations in mind this morning. I believe that by means of such a contrast, we may perceive a real distinction - not only between two kinds of presentations, but also between two kinds of authority … the authority of this world and the authority of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ own family understood themselves to be under authority - the authority of their Jewish faith. As Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple for the Presentation, they were fulfilling an obligation. In fact, our Gospel reading today follows mention of Jesus’ circumcision, and it just precedes the description of his visit to Jerusalem for Passover at age twelve. Thus, the family of our Lord is in the midst of fulfilling various responsibilities of their faith. Indeed, Jesus and his family understand and respond to their responsibilities, as ones under authority.

Later in Jesus’ life, a wonderful irony is pointed out several times in the Gospel witness. After some profound teaching or an indication of Jesus’ healing power, this observation is made of those who witnessed the act: “They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”(Mk1:22). Now, that observation is ironic indeed, for the scribes themselves were precisely the ones with authority in that world. Along with the Pharisees, they held religious authority for certain, and in some cases, they even held the power of life and death. Yet, in contrast to them, the biblical witness is that Jesus had authority and not the scribes and Pharisees.

What does this mean? I believe we discover the meaning when we perceive a distinction in sources of authority. That is, someone else confers the authority of the scribes and Pharisees. Ultimately, theirs is the authority of the synagogue and of the state. The scribes and Pharisees had no authority on their own. Rather, others conferred authority to them.

On the other hand, Jesus had no authority whatever in the eyes of the world - no authority, that is, from any other institution or person. Rather, his only authority came from within himself. His authority was not conferred, but rather, it was authentic. And the people could recognize that. “They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

Now, I need to add a note here. Being “under authority” is different from possessing authentic authority. In fact, each of us - including Jesus and his family - is under some authority … and we need to recognize that fact in order to live a healthy life. That is, any one of us is not entirely free to do and to act as we please, with no responsibility toward anyone else. Indeed, to act in such a way would be irresponsible. Thus, we are “under authority” in that sense. However, any true authority that we possess - any authentic authority - comes not from some source outside ourselves … but, rather, from within. We speak with authority - true authority - when we speak from our own convictions. That true, authentic authority comes not from positions that the world may convey upon us but from our own sense of conviction and of truth.

What does this mean, in our own day? My friends, I believe that the message is profound and important for us in how we live ourselves and in what we may observe n the lives of others. For instance, the leaders of our land seem to have become enamored with the exercise of conferred authority. This authority derives only from superior might, weapons, and technology. However, authentic authority - the moral authority from within - seems to be absent from what we convey to the rest of the world. I admit to great sadness and disappointment as I say that today. On the stage of the world, what we Americans seem committed to share is not authentic, moral authority, following the example of Jesus, but rather, the authority that we claim by virtue only of our might.

As a way to conclude these thoughts, may we return to the image of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. This Presentation of Jesus follows the form of an offering rather than a claiming. This Presentation emanates from a place of true authority within, rather than conferred authority from without. In summary, this Presentation follows the direction of St. Paul to the Romans … the direction that calls for the exercise of authentic authority: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship”(12:1). Amen.

Copyright © 2003 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee