By What Authority?

On this Tuesday in Holy Week, the appointed Gospel for the Daily Prayer of the Church is taken from the eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to Mark:

 

Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’ (Mk. 11: 27-33).

 

By what authority does Jesus do things?  You and I know by what authority Jesus acts.  He is God himself, in the flesh, who walked among us to show us that it is the Divine Authority of love which prevails, a love which knows no bounds, which sacrifices all, which is humble, which empties itself even to the point of death on a cross.

 

Let us pray:  O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday at 6 PM at Trinity, we will have the final installment in our Lenten Series, Nic at Night, with the Rev. Michael Chalk. 

 

Seaside Seniors at 11 AM on Thursday in Sutton Hall.

 

Holy Week & Easter Schedule:

 

         Maundy Thursday at 7 PM, foot washing, Eucharist and the stripping of the altar

 

         Good Friday at noon, traditional service.

 

         Easter at 9 AM, festival Eucharist followed with Easter Egg Hunt and Pot luck lunch.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550