Daily Gospel Reflection
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December 13, 2021
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.”
“Whoa! Who made you the boss?” was a common question posed by one of my six children when they were younger. Usually, a sibling was trying to take charge of a made-up game and, therefore, threatened the delicate balance of authority—someone felt like they were losing control.
I imagine the chief priests and elders felt like they were losing control too when they saw Jesus preaching in the temple. The temple was under their authority causing them to ask, “Who made you the boss?” The answer for us is easy. Jesus, as God’s son, has authority over everyone and all things, but that was not the straightforward reply Jesus gave.
Jesus recognized the underlying frustration of the chief priests and elders and replied with a question of his own. Christ created a quandary. Either response from them would not have a desirable outcome, so they had no choice but to admit they did not know the answer.
As a stay-at-home mom, I often want to be the boss of my family and my home. It is difficult at times to let go of control. In this, I empathize with the chief priests and elders in today’s gospel.
But Jesus invites us to recognize true authority is not just about having power. Instead, it is to be a catalyst for the potential in others—to empower them along their journey. Jesus uses his authority to serve and teach others, not to dominate or control.
Lord, may your authority reach into our hearts, our lives, and our actions so we may emulate you. May we use our authority to serve and teach others.
Prayer
Protect me from desiring an authority that masks my fear and selfishness. Guard me from the seduction of power and importance. Save me from clinging to my needs and direct my spirit to move with the authority of your son’s love.
Saint of the Day
There is little information that can be historically verified about St. Lucy’s life, but the fact that she was a well-known and honored saint in the early Church cannot be denied. Lucy continues to remain among the most revered martyrs—she is one of the few saints invoked in the Eucharistic prayer at Mass.
Tradition tells us that Lucy was born to wealthy parents in Sicily, Italy. As a young girl, Lucy converted to Christianity and consecrated herself, pledging to remain a virgin. She kept her conversion a secret from her parents, who, in the meantime, promised Lucy in marriage to a young man who was a pagan.
Lucy refused outright to marry the young man, citing her vow of virginity. Stung and rejected, her betrothed denounced Lucy as a Christian in front of the governor of their province. Emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians was at its height, and Lucy was brought to trial, around the year 304 AD.
There are many legends regarding Lucy's possible martyrdom. One tells the story of a judge condemning Lucy to a brothel. But when anyone tried to touch her, they were unable to reach or move her. A variation on this story says that Lucy was so "filled with the Holy Spirit" she became like a mountain, and not even a team of oxen could move her. Another account says that soldiers tried to burn her, but Lucy remained unscorched by the flames. Finally, accounts claim that Lucy was killed by the sword: either beheaded or stabbed through the eyes.
Lucy's eyes have taken on a large role in her legend. Some stories recount Lucy’s eyes being gouged out by part of her torture; some claim that she herself plucked them out before she was even brought to trial, in order to ward off her suitor. Her eyes were restored to her, however, and she was even more beautiful than before. Lucy's name comes from the Latin for "light," and as light is received ocularly, eyes are a natural symbol for this saint. Lucy is the patron of those who are blind or who suffer from diseases of the eye.
On the old Gregorian calendar, December 13 was the Winter Solstice. Thus, this feast day of Lucy's martyrdom was celebrated on the darkest day of the year. St. Lucy became a symbol of the light of Christ that breaks through the darkness. In Scandinavian countries, where winter was particularly dark, St. Lucy or "St. Lucia's" day became a great celebration. King Canute of Norway declared that St. Lucy's feast day on December 13 would become the beginning of the Christmas celebration.
Some relics of St. Lucy rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus, and Lucy is also depicted in one of the murals on the Basilica's walls, holding her eyes on a plate.
St. Lucy, brave intercessor for those in need of physical and spiritual light—pray for us!