“Show us your credentials." Some thoughts for the readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Season of Creation
“Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to teach here? Who gave you permission to cause this ruckus” Big questions that keep coming up. Moses faced it in the wilderness. Paul faced it repeatedly due to his radical ideas. He claimed his authority came from the risen Christ. Jesus pointed to his faithfulness to God, whose own authority rests on the covenants to restore humanity and renew creation. True authority is found in actions. Matthews’s gospel as a whole and this week’s reading in particular is all about these questions. In telling this story Matthew wanted to show both where Jesus’ authority came from and the nature of that authority. To put this week’s reading back, Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem and has already tipped over tables. Next day he is back in the temple, having grumpily dried up a non-fruit bearing fig tree. He is at once confronted by the wealthy, entitled elite religious leaders who used religion to justify their wealth while abandoning their responsi...
