05/07/2026
John
15:9-11 Jesus said to his dis
ciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love
you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my
love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I
have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be
complete.”
In
my home state of Kerala in India, the Church has been embroiled in a great
liturgical controversy that can be called authority versus autonomy. The
controversy consists of two conflicting sides. On the side of authority stand
the Indian bishops (and even the pope), while on the side of autonomy are
ranged the Indian priests (and many lay people). At the crux of the conflict is
the position of the priest at Mass. Should the priest face the people during
Mass, or should he face the altar with his back to the people? You know how
everyone loves it whenever we change something at the Mass.
Why
is this such a big deal? Since 1965 (after Vatican II) the priest has faced the
people in the Indian Church (like we do here at I.C.). But the Indian bishops
met in a council in 2021 and decided it would be better if the priest turned
and faced the altar (instead of the people) during the second half of the Mass,
the Liturgy of the Eucharist. And all heck broke loose. The priests and people
protested in front of the cathedral, they burned posters of the cardinal in
effigy, street brawls broke out, and for several months the cathedral was
closed and protected by the local police.
Now,
I should note that the Indian bishops have the legitimate authority to enact
liturgical changes. That is how we believe the Holy Spirit has guided the
Church for 2,000 years and will continue to do so. But the priests and people
did not approve of the change and wanted to act autonomously and independently.
Whose side would you be on: the authority of the prelates and pope, or the side
of the autonomy of the priests and people? In any case, they reached a
compromise where all the Masses in the cathedral would be celebrated with the
priest facing the people, and with only one Mass where the priest faced the
altar. Who do you think won?
In
the gospel today, Jesus teaches that often – if not always – autonomy must give
way to authority. Jesus sacrifices his own personal autonomy to act in
obedience to the Father’s paternal authority. He says: “I have kept my Father’s
commandments and remain in his love.” The hallmark, therefore, of Jesus life is
perfect obedience to his Father’s will. And in the first reading from Acts 15,
the apostles (first bishops and Peter the pope, that is, authority) decree that
Gentile converts did not need to be circumcised in order to become Christians.
But notice we also read: “After much debate had taken place,” that is, much
disagreement and discord.
In
other words, from the beginning of the history of the Church stretching all the
way down to 2025 in the Church in India, the controversy of authority versus
autonomy has shaken the community of disciples and threatened to fracture its
fragile unity. Tragically, we have not always successfully maintained that
peace and unity, like when the Orthodox and Catholic Churches split in 1054.
And of course, authority versus autonomy was precisely why the Protestant
churches departed from the Catholic fold. Now, let me ask you again: which side
won? No side.
Of
course, the tug-of-war between authority and autonomy does not play out only in
the first century and in far-off foreign countries, but touches us very close
to home. After all, why else did we Americans fight the Civil War and kill our
fellow citizens if the heated debate was not over states rights (autonomy)
versus the national interest of union (authority)? And doesn’t every parent
feel the same tension of the Indian bishops when they set rules and
expectations for their families and homes and are met with rebellious and
recalcitrant teenagers? Mom and dad’s authority butts heads with their
children’s growing desire for autonomy.
At
this Mass of the 5th week of Easter, as we await the out-pouring of the Holy
Spirit at Pentecost, may that eternal Spirit of love between the Father and the
Son, between whom there is only harmony of authority and autonomy and no
discord, teach us how to live and love each other in our own communities of
church, country, and family. Why? Because only if we learn how to balance just
authority with legitimate autonomy here on earth will we feel welcome and at
home in heaven. Jesus said: “I have told you this so that my joy might be in
you and your joy might be complete.”
Praised be Jesus Christ!
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