By The Power Invested In Me

Today’s gospel brought a phrase to mind, “By the power invested in me…” I’m sure we’ve all heard this sentence at a wedding or two, and pretty much anyone now-a-days can go online and get power invested in them by whomever they give their $99 to, as a “minister” who can pronounce stuff officially. I love the words “power invested in” and I think it is a good image for us to pray with today. Jesus’ authority is not an investment or an acquisition, but the origination or the very beginning of the power. He is the source and we have full and complete access to this SAME power by nature of our Baptism!! The same open heaven that declared Jesus as God’s beloved Son at His Baptism was opened over us at our Baptism and the same power was invested in us. We have it. We can operate from it. We can do all the same things Jesus did, heal the sick, cure lepers, and raise the dead, but the difference is that Jesus accepts it and if I’m being honest, I doubt this freely given gift all the time. I think it is reserved for the extra holy, the super righteous, the ones that preach better, the ones that sing better, the ones that aren’t afraid to pray over people, the ones that give their lives in service, the missionaries, the bold, the brave, and I am just “in training” to one day be able to operate in this authority. I have the same kind of doubt it seems that the chief priests and elders do in today’s gospel. They are undecided and hesitant to proclaim that God is the source of all power and all good and so Jesus withholds, not as an act of punishment, but He knows they are not quite ready for the whole truth. Life is a journey and God is gentle and kind in His revelations to us. Some can handle more quicker, and some are simply slow learners that need to be “spoon fed” at a different pace. I’m grateful for this gentle understanding from our Father because He knows exactly when to show me things and tell me things that will draw me closer to Him. He never forces Himself into my life, but is tenderly working to get me to see Him, pay attention to Him, and know that He is right there waiting for me. My doubt and my hesitancy never stop Him from pursuing me, but it makes Him want to show off even more. 

The bottom line is that each of us gets to say, “By the power invested in me, through Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…be healed, be freed, be delivered, be raised, become who you were meant to be.” The same open heaven calls our name and we have a new opportunity each day to stand under it and be Jesus to everyone we encounter. This kind of investment has nothing to do with credit scores or annual income or anything material, and everything to do with God’s unconditional love and extravagance in expressing that love. Yay! Jesus reminds us today that we come from “a heavenly origin” and so let’s act in the power that has been invested in us. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 NM 24:2-7, 15-17A

When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe,
the spirit of God came upon him,
and he gave voice to his oracle:

The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of a man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;
your encampments, O Israel!
They are like gardens beside a stream,
like the cedars planted by the LORD.
His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,
he shall have the sea within reach;
His king shall rise higher,
and his royalty shall be exalted.

Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle:

The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.
I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel.

Responsorial Psalm PS 25:4-5AB, 6 AND 7BC, 8-9

R.(4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Alleluia PS 85:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, LORD, your love,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 21:23-27

When Jesus had come into the temple area,
the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him
as he was teaching and said,
"By what authority are you doing these things? 
And who gave you this authority?" 
Jesus said to them in reply,
"I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. 
Where was John's baptism from?
Was it of heavenly or of human origin?" 
They discussed this among themselves and said,
"If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us,
'Then why did you not believe him?' 
But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd,
for they all regard John as a prophet." 
So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." 
He himself said to them,

"Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things."