Our Venerable Fathers Paul of Thebes and John the Hut-Dweller.
James 4:7-5:9; Mark 11:27-33.
Read Mark 11:27-33
When St. John Chrysostom was a young monk in Antioch, people began to notice his holiness. But instead of seeking praise, he chose to withdraw further, understanding that real authority in the Church doesn’t come from recognition, but from obedience to God. This tension between public authority and divine legitimacy is at the core of today’s gospel lesson.
The chief priests, scribes, and elders question Jesus: “By what authority are you doing these things?” (v.28). They’re not asking out of genuine interest…they simply feel threatened. Jesus had entered Jerusalem publicly, cleared the Temple, and taught in ways that challenged their control. Instead of answering directly, Jesus asks them a question about John the Baptist. They refuse to answer, fearing how the people will react, so Jesus doesn’t answer them either.
This isn’t Jesus avoiding the question; it’s him exposing something deeper. The leaders can’t recognize divine authority because they care more about public opinion than the truth. Jesus, on the other hand, acts from the authority of the Father, and not by claiming it for Himself, but by showing it through healing, sacrifice, and righteousness.
In Church teaching, true authority comes from kenosis: self-emptying love. As St. Gregory Palamas taught, God’s authority isn’t about control, but about His grace and mercy at work in the world.
So the real question for us isn’t whether authority is real, but whether our hearts are clear enough to see it properly. Like the saints, we must learn to recognize God’s authority not in power, but in the humble presence of Christ. How do you discern the authority of Christ speaking to you? Those words will always speak the truth, love fully, and leads to the cross.