Jesus,

By what authority are You doing these things,
and who gave You this authority?

Today, credentials often feel like the passport to a secure future.
We look to Ivy League degrees like Yale, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge.
We trust professional titles such as Doctor, Engineer, Professor, Attorney.
We rely on certifications – CPA, CFA, MBA.

Yet I find myself asking,
:Do these credentials truly lead to a life that is meaningful and contented?

You were questioned not because You lacked credentials,
but because Your authority did not fit the world’s idea of a leader.

The authority I see around me seeks to dominate and impress.
But Your authority is different. It is
rooted in love,
expressed through service,
and revealed in the gift of Yourself.

Teach me to recognise Your authority,
and to follow it,
even when it looks nothing like the authority the world values.

Lord, help me trust Your authority above all else.

Monday of the 3rd week of Advent