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

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

During the 1960's, the college student generation began to deal openly with the question of authority. Challenges to authority became commonplace, as people and institutions, one by one, were deemed unworthy of former esteem. Such questions about authority had been unusual in the history of our country, but in the past forty years or so, we have accepted them as facts of life.

It has been said that an accurate measure of society's concerns is reflected in bumper stickers. One of those stickers that has been around for some time proclaims this simple theme: "Question authority." In a real sense, who the authority is or what that authority stands for does not matter. If it is an authority, then it should be questioned, our world seems to say - our world which has inherited certain attitudes from the 60's. Indeed, such a perception emerged from societal consciousness at least forty years ago, and it continues in full force today, "Question authority."

Thus, we read our Gospel lesson this week with a certain societal perspective and mindset. "Jesus and his disciples went into Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority" (Mk 1:21-22).

Now, I want to suggest to you today that Jesus' authority was different from that which we question - or don't question - by virtue of living in America today. Jesus' authority was - and is - special.

Where does the authority of Jesus come from? He held no political office or even any position of particular esteem. In fact, Jesus was a wandering carpenter-preacher, not staying with well-to-do people, or even having a pillow on which to lay his head at night. No authority there, in prestige or politics or power.

Even in his primary field of communication and knowledge - that is, religion - even there, Jesus held little recognized authority. The scribes and Pharisees maintained those positions. And, as we read in the Gospel witness, those people were not inclined to share any authority with Jesus or, even, to give him the benefit of the doubt. No authority there, in religious institutions or with religious leaders.

And so, where does the authority of Jesus come from? If he has authority, how is it different? After all, in our world, it seems that a person must be given a position of authority by others. He or she has to be vested with authority. But even the President must give a State of the Union speech each year. And there he tries to prove himself worthy of authority to a press and a public ready and willing to challenge that authority. In fact, many in our day are holding their breath, anticipating a quick end to our new President's honeymoon time. Authority is given and, then, questioned. That's true of Presidents and football coaches and religious leaders. Thus, this idea of authority may be more complicated that it appears at first.

However, it seems to me that even in our days of questioning authority, we have an intuitive sense about what it really takes to be truly authoritative in any field. That is, authentic authority comes from within a person. Also, true authority is known by its fruits, not by its trappings.

Regardless of our football preferences - the Pittsburg Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals certainly have clear claims to participate in today's Super Bowl. These teams have won the games required to get there - and, therefore, they have made their case on the football field. There is a certain authority behind the fact that those two teams will play today - the authority of action.

Authentic authority, therefore, comes from within a person or a group or a team, and it is known by others through results and action. Thus, authentic authority involves deeds done, not honors conveyed; performance, not privilege; and self, not society.

"They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority." Jesus' authority comes from within him, and it is recognized in action - in his life, his work, his person.

But with Jesus we must go a step further. He was truly authentic and, therefore, filled with authority from within. But the direction of his life and work and person provides more insight into his unique authority.

That is, Jesus lived for others. He served and offered and gave. A real sense of humility results in the most authentic authority. "The meek shall inherit the earth," Jesus says. And, also, he encourages us to share in his birthright, for he calls us to follow him.

In one of the churches I previously served, we developed a community soup kitchen in response to our Lord's command to feed the hungry. Being there with those hungry people gave us as worker's access to their lives - a wonderful open window in lives almost completely shut off from the world. Because we accepted the humble position of a servant, we had a particular kind of authority. Certainly, many people and groups exercised authority over these hungry people during the course of daily living. However, that was not the same kind of authority. The authority of soup kitchen workers emerged from the window opened from the inside - by the hungry people themselves - and not from the authority of other structures and institutions which had some power over their lives. Thus, like Jesus, ours was the authority of a servant, not of a master … personal authority, not that of an institution. Therefore, our authority, following the example of our Lord, was authentic.

The authority of Jesus is indeed the authority of the baptized community who claims to follow him. I commend to all of us the Baptismal Covenant that we will renew in a few minutes, as a sign of our true authority. We will renew this covenant - this agreement - with God, because of our baptisms and our intention to follow in the way of our Lord. Finally, I commend to our candidates today and to the rest of us as well the only authority that is authentic - the authority of Jesus Christ, who calls us to respond to him and invites us all to "Come, follow me."

Copyright © 2009 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee