Upon thinking through the idea of practical living in Christian Community, I have been reflecting with my congregation about how the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of scripture calls us to consider two very different perspectives.
Power and authority, for instance can have very different implications depending on which perspective (world view) we hold. I was reminded through a brief commentary that after "Jesus... gave the disciples power and authority... he then sent them out to preach and heal."(Luke 9: 1-6) They were not empowered for the purposes of selfish gain or to lord it over others. We so often see this from personal/professional lives all the way through to geo-political interactions. Rather, they were empowered to preach Good News
and heal. When Jesus spoke of power and authority he did something unheard of. Jesus wedded power and authority with love and humility. We do not truly have one without the other.
Having just watched the Pope address the U.S. Congress, it was fascinating to hear how his power and authority were infused with a pastoral presence even as he named the huge challenges facing our modern societies.
His challenge to rise to uphold the common good, to attend to the world environment, to lift up the downtrodden, to honor the family, etc. was not spoken in a scolding manner but rather called forward a capacity, honoured a history infused with such people, and blessed the present decision makers to do what they have been empowered to do.
