“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...””
In the grand tapestry of the Catholic Church, the biblical threads of authority weave an intricate design, guiding the faithful in their discipleship and preserving the gospel handed down through centuries. As we delve into the richness of the New Testament, we encounter the profound significance of Christ investing ordinary men with incredible authority—a divine gift bestowed upon individuals to lead the faithful and safeguard the deposit of faith. At the heart of this reflection is the recognition that human authority in the Church is not a mere administrative arrangement but a sacred office, a participation in the very authority of Christ Himself.
“The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task.”
To explore this theme, we turn to the teachings of the Church and the timeless wisdom of our faith. Central to our understanding is the acknowledgment that the Church, established by Christ Himself, is both human and divine. Human authority becomes a means through which the divine order is expressed and upheld on earth. We cannot miss this, for to reject the Church is to reject what our Lord Himself established. The true Church is not just an invisible, spiritual community of like-minded believers, but a visible society, an organization founded directly and immediately by Jesus Christ. The visible and human dimension of the Church does not exclude the spiritual unity, but rather safeguards and embodies it.
God worked in the Old Covenant through human representatives: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, etc. The Kingdom of Israel was united under the House of David. The sinfulness of King David’s successors did not invalidate God’s design for His people. Despite our human sinfulness and failures, Christ brought His heavenly kingdom to earth, establishing it upon the Apostles and their successors. Foremost, Christ established this divine office upon Simon, later named Peter.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.””
The Pope, as the Vicar of Christ and successor to the Apostle Peter, stands as the visible head of the Church, entrusted with the authority to safeguard the deposit of faith. Through apostolic succession, bishops share in this authority, forming a hierarchical structure that mirrors the design intended by the Divine Architect. Human authority, then, becomes a channel through which the gospel is handed down through generations.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ commissions Peter with the words, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). This commissioning of Peter symbolizes the foundational role Christ will invest in men to have divine authority in the Church.
First, the Church does not belong to Peter nor the Pope but is Christ’s. Since it belongs to Him, Jesus chooses how He will build His Church. Jesus is the Architect, not Peter, and less so Martin Luther, John Calvin, or you or me. The Church that Christ builds is in continuity with the past, but also far surpasses it. This is why God said to the prophet Jeremiah, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jer. 31:31). The phrase “Israel and Judah” refers to the divided kingdoms of the North and South, but God’s prophecy of the new covenant will restore Israel in a new way (see also Ez. 37:21-22).
Second, Jesus begins His building process with Simon’s name change. The giving of his new name, Peter, heightens our biblical sensibilities, for God rarely changes a person’s name. God renamed Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, and now God directly gives Simon a new name. There is no evidence that Petros was ever used for a man’s name in recorded history up to this point. If Jesus had stopped there, it would have been enough! The name change by God presumes that the reader acknowledges its significance and feels the weight of what Jesus is doing. Jesus is reconstituting His chosen people. He started with the Twelve Apostles who are the new patriarchs of a New Israel of God, the Church.
“And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. ”
Third, more powerful than the name change is the precise way Christ invests this man with divine authority. He gives Simon Peter the power of “binding and loosing” and claims his earthly judgments will have divine ratification. Jesus will set His divine seal on this man’s judgments. Binding and Loosing are also technical terms in rabbinical Judaism. The Jewish rabbis of Jesus’ day viewed their teaching as a “yoke”. To issue authoritative interpretations of Scripture or legal prescriptions for Jewish life was to have the authority to bind and loose. Jesus is giving Peter this power! Since God will not ratify a lie or sin, the Catholic understanding of the powers to bind and loose means that God will prevent Peter’s earthly judgment from falling into error. The gates of Hell “will not prevail” against the Church because God will not let His steward of the Kingdom lead His flock into error concerning faith and morals.
Fourth, it is good to talk about the “keys of the kingdom” now. What are these keys? These are the keys to the House of David. Isaiah the prophet sheds light on the role of the Royal Chief Steward, Viceroy, or what we might call today, the Prime Minister.
“For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things...”
As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, the role of human authority becomes even more crucial. In an age of rapid change and diverse ideologies, the Church stands as a beacon of stability and timeless truth. Human authority, exercised with humility and fidelity to the teachings of Christ, serves as a guiding force, providing clarity amidst the uncertainties of the world.
However, the exercise of authority in the Church is not immune to human imperfections. Acknowledging this reality, the Church emphasizes the importance of discernment, prayer, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. The Second Vatican Council, in its document Lumen Gentium, beautifully captures this sentiment, stating, "The pastoral office or the habitual and daily care of their sheep is entrusted to the shepherds who are placed over them" (LG 18).
In the spirit of authentic leadership, the role of human authority in the Church calls for a harmonious collaboration between the clergy and the laity. Each member, according to their unique gifts and vocation, contributes to the flourishing of the Body of Christ. This cooperative effort ensures that the Church remains a vibrant and responsive community, attuned to the needs of its members.
In conclusion, the role of human authority in the Catholic Church is a sacred responsibility—a divine commission to guide, nurture, and preserve the faith. Rooted in the teachings of Christ, the hierarchical structure reflects the divine order established by the Master Himself. As Catholics, we embrace the tapestry of human authority, recognizing it as a thread woven into the fabric of our spiritual journey—a journey guided by the timeless wisdom and enduring love of our Lord.