“gave them authority over unclean spirits.”

In today’s gospel we not only see Jesus sending out the apostles as missionaries but also giving them authority. This authority is not taken back from the apostles. In fact, it is only strengthened as time goes on. “The Gospel of today’s Mass tells us how Jesus urges the Twelve whom He has just chosen to go out to fulfill their new task. This first errand is a preparation and a figure of the definitive sending that will take place after the Resurrection.(cf. Mt. 28:18-20)” [1] Today, the authority of the apostles rests on the bishops and the head of the bishops, the bishop of Rome, our Pope.
 
What is church authority? This understanding of church authority comes a lot from the distinction of the doctrine and Traditions of the Church. According to the Catechism it is, “The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rom.” [2]
 
How does the church have this authority? The Church has this authority simply because Jesus Christ bestowed it upon her and the bishops. As the Second Vatican Council teaches us, “In order to shepherd the People of God and to increase its numbers without cease, Christ the Lord set up in his Church a variety of offices which aim at the good of the whole body. The holders of office, who are invested with a sacred power, are, in fact, dedicated to promoting the interests of their brethren, so that all who belong to the People of God…may attain to salvation.” [3]
 
In today’s Gospel reading, we see Jesus giving this authority. “Jesus sends his Apostles to announce that the Kingdom of God, so long promised, is imminent, and to manifest its spiritual aspects. Our Lord tells them exactly what they have to preach: The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He does not say anything about freedom from the Roman yoke under which the nation was suffering. He does not speak about what kind of social or political system they were to live under, nor, indeed, about any other exclusively worldly matter. Christ did not come for such a purpose, and they have not been chosen to concern themselves with such things.” [4]
 
When does the Church have to exercise her authority? Only in cases where faith and morals come into question from within the Church. “The Church’s Magisterium exercises the authority it holds from Christ to the fullest extent when it defines dogmas, that is when it proposes, in a form obliging the Christian people to an irrevocable adherence of faith, truths contained in divine Revelation or also when it proposes, in a definitive way, truths having a necessary connection with these.” [5]
 
Why should we follow the church’s authority? Why not just follow God? By following the Church we are following God. The Catholic Church is guided and lead by God. By our baptism, we receive the Word of God containing the teachings of “the law of Christ”. “From the Church he receives the grace of the sacraments that sustains him on the ‘way.’ From the Church he learns the example of holiness and recognizes its model and source in the all-holy Virgin Mary; he discerns it in the authentic witness of those who live it; he discovers it in the spiritual tradition and long history of the saints who have gone before him and whom the liturgy celebrates in the rhythms of the sanctoral cycle.” [6]
 
It is like our parents have authority over us. They have authority of us growing up because they are the ones who gave us life and protects us as we grow. When we are little infants we never question our parents because we instinctually know they are providing for us are well being. As we grow older we must think for ourselves but remain obedient to our parents to what they place as rules to us. We may think at times that we know better or that our parents don’t understand, but ultimately they do know and understand. Likewise, in the church we are baptized into new life of Christ. From this point on our lives are completely dependent on Him. As we grow up we want to know and learn about Him and what He wants for us. Our Mother, the Church helps us learn this and we must be obedient to Him and our mother, the Church.
 
We should thank God for the Church because we have a right to be taught the truth and be lead by God in His divine saving grace. We have a right to “be instructed in the divine saving precepts that purify judgment and, with grace, heal wounded human reason. [7] Since we are taught and instructed by the Church we must be obedient to the legitimacy of the authority of the Church. “Even if they concern disciplinary matters, these determinations call for docility in charity.” [8]

[1] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 4, 16.1
[2] CCC 85
[3] Lumen Gentium 18
[4] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 4, 16.1
[5] CCC 88
[6] CCC 2030
[7] CCC 2037
[8] CCC 2037