Teaching authority

      Just for informational purposes, there was no listing for this date in Holy women, holy men. I take that to mean I am free to honour a holy person  that I have been graced with in my life. Today I remember Anna C. Schuster, teacher and invalid. Anna was a convert to Roman Catholicism but not long afterwards she fell and broke her hip. In her day this amounted to a sentence of severe physical restrictions and bedrest for the remainder of her life. That was many years ago that Anna, my neighbor had a profound effect on my life. It is ironic that I recently was the recipient of a new hip and that it actually gave me a new lease on life.  Anna however was faced with those severe restrictions, we have come a long way. Anna accepted her fate lovingly and faithfully and lived as best she could. She witnessed to those she could, journaled and prayed. She is an inspiration to me. She taught me a great deal about life and faith.

       By what authority did she dare to 'teach' me?  I like to think that I in turn am able to witness and 'teach' with my life and my blogging. I am gay, a husband, a parent, a professional and I strive always to be the best person I can be for myself and God. How dare I attempt to teach! By what authority?  A basic tenet of Christianity is that they will know we are Christians by our love. Basically, judge us if you must but do so by what we do, not by what we say.

      As a Roman Catholic cleric, I had 'license' to preach, baptize, officiate weddings etc. The church made it quite clear that I had this privilege under their license, so to speak. When I asked for a leave of absence ( as I sought counsel and therapy in dealing with the realization that I am gay ), the church placed a restriction on my privileges. Later, when they laicized me, a letter arrived strictly admonishing me that I was not permitted to participate in a whole range of activities both clerical and educational. I won't argue by whose authority they think that they can do such things. I will note note that a whole range of authority was apparently removed from me. It almost seems to be like a statement that I can no longer live my faithful life. If our actions speak louder than words and we actually teach by our lives, then I would seemingly have been doomed. But, by whose authority?

       Fortunately, like the example of our Saviour, many do not honour the man made rules of who has authority and who does not. Other churches and dare I say, God herself honours our lives of lived faith. That is teaching authority and power! Each of us has the authority and responsibilty to live teaching lives of faith. No authority required except our faith. 

      Do not underestimate the power of your faith filled, lived life, witnessing to God's love.

Matthew 21:23-27

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to 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, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.