Fount of Power

Having a healthy hesitation about wielding power

06/22/2018

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18 When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die. For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled the land. But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards. He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD, exacted from them a sworn commitment, and then showed them the king's son. The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath and those going off duty that week, came to Jehoiada the priest. He gave the captains King David's spears and shields, which were in the temple of the LORD. And the guards, with drawn weapons, lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure, surrounding the altar and the temple on the king's behalf. Then Jehoiada led out the king's son and put the crown and the insignia upon him. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, clapping their hands and shouting, "Long live the king!"

There is a phrase that’s very vogue these days to describe power politics, namely, “palace intrigue.” Have you heard of palace intrigue before? Wherever you find a group of people trying to lead an organization – be it a government or a company or even a church – you have the potential for palace intrigue, which is basically the jockeying and jostling for influence and authority in the group.

I recently came across this phrase in the diaries of President Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. He wrote: “Many Presidents have had what is known as ‘palace intrigue’ or palace bickering.” He continued: “You always find that there’s an excellent chance for jealousy and bickering among people who are close to the fount of power.” I’m always reminded of that insightful remark by the 19th century British politician, Lord Acton, who shrewdly observed: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In other words, palace intrigue is the tell-tale sign that power has started to corrupt the one who wields it, and those around him or her.

If there I one theme that recurs like a refrain throughout the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Kings, it would be “palace intrigue.” We read perhaps the worst of the drama today when Athaliah, the mother of one slain king, starts to kill all the children of a rival family, the family of Judah. But one small heir, Joash, was saved at the last second and went into hiding for six years. Then Joash reappears resplendent in all his regal attire and orders Athaliah executed for treason toward the royal family. Palace intrigue had sunk to new lows in the descendants of King David. As President Truman had reflected: “You always find that there’s an excellent chance for jealousy and bickering among people who are close to the fount of power.” Absolute power had corrupted the descendants of David absolutely.

One of the things I admire the most about Pope Francis is his reluctance to wield power; he has a healthy hesitation even to touch it. I believe that when he was elected as the pope, he turned to all the cardinals and said: “May God forgive you for what you have done!” He did not desire the power of the papacy. This is one reason Francis has discouraged the elevation of priests to the rank of “monsignor,” something which I’m very sad about (not really!). He once said humorously that if there are any priests who are ecclesiastically climbing the ladder of success, they would do better to “go climb a mountain.” Pope Francis is keenly aware of the corrosive and corrupting nature of power, especially political power, and he will not tolerate it among his clergy.

The pope does not want to see any palace intrigue in the papal palace. Maybe that’s why he no longer lives in the palace but in a hotel.

Praised be Jesus Christ!