Once I went for a blessing and on my way out, I noticed a building that was dilapidated. I queried why the owners did not take care of the building when commerce and business in the place were booming.

The neighbors said that the property ownership was transferred to a son who did not tell his parents. Out of anger, the mother said that the property would never bring prosperity to her son.

And so it happened. 

Tenants would come in but then would leave after three months for a variety of reasons. Hence, the property never brought prosperity to the son. 

How do you explain this reality spiritually? The Gospel has a story of Jesus giving authority to his disciples. Three reflections on authority:

1. Having authority is having power from God. All power comes from God and he gives this power to those he has appointed as authority: Church, priests, parents, civic leaders
2. Honor authority. Honor your father and mother is one of the commandments. Honor your leaders, honor your parish priest, honor the Church. They are not perfect but as long as they are doing their best, support and honor them.
3. The blessing of the authority is very powerful, but so is the curse. When the authority blesses, God bestows the blessings. However, when the authority curses, we make God take a backseat and the evil spirit takes over. 

We thank God for all our authorities who have been faithful to their vocation. On the other hand, we too have been pained by authority who abused their vocation – may we be able to forgive, move on, and be healed.