Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

• Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
• Romans 8:14-17
• Matthew 28:16-20

Ah yes!  It was another Sunday morning in the Pauline household.  Everyone was off doing odds and ends.  Vincent was looking at a book on ship captains that he had to review for Summer Academy school.  Mary Clare was also thinking of all the homework she stayed up late last night to finish.  Lucy and Hillary were helping Mom clear the breakfast dishes, because it was their week to help.

CLANG!  CLANG!  The hall clock rang out 9 o’clock.  It was time for the family to gather for the Gospel reading.  Today, Dad gave Vincent the honor of reading the passage.  Vincent opened the Bible and began reading.  Within a few seconds, he closed it.  The other Pauline children looked stunned.

“Vincent, finish the entire reading!” Lucy said.

“But that’s it!” Vincent replied.  “Just four verses!”

“But my chair isn’t even warm yet!” Mary Clare laughed.

“Well,” said Dad, “even though it is a really short reading, it is a very important one!”

“Just four verses!” Lucy said.  “What can we learn in just four verses?”

As Mom was getting ready to answer, 4-year-old Hillary tugged at her arm.  “Mommy, what is a torrah fee?”

“A what, Hillary?” Mom asked.

“You know, a torrah fee!  Jesus said that God gave Him all the torrah fees on heaven and on earth.”

Dad and Mom’s mouths were puckering to keep from laughing out loud.  “Oh, you mean authority!” Dad smiled.  “That is a hard word to understand, Hillary.  Vincent, would you please go get the dictionary?  Let’s see what it says.”

Vincent went into Mr. Pauline’s home office and reappeared with the dictionary.  He sat down and found authority—an “A” word on Page 47.

“It says here, ‘the power to give commands and enforce obedience.  The power to direct people and things.  The power to shape the actions of others.  And the source of correct information or wise advice.’  Sounds to me as if it means the person in charge!” Vincent replied.

“You are right, Vincent.  That is exactly what it means.  And our Bible reading tells us exactly how in charge Jesus is.  It says in Verse 18, ‘Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” ’  (Matthew 28:18-20, Revised Standard Version)  So God gave to Jesus all authority over everything!  And with that authority, Jesus is able to direct His disciples to go and guide others in the ways of truth through Baptism and faith.”

Hillary said, “So au-thor-it-y is when people have power and can tell you what to do!”

Mom said, “Yes, Hillary, many people have authority over us as we live our lives.  Because of who they are or what they do, they can tell us how to act or what to do.  Who can think of people who have authority over us in our daily lives?”

“In my book on sea captains,” Vincent said, “the captain of the ship has authority over others on the ship.”

“And teachers certainly have authority over teaching and giving out homework!” Mary Clare sighed, referring back to her homework load.

Dad said, “And when Lucy and Hillary were helping Mom with the dishes, they were being obedient to her authority as a parent.  That’s right out of Sirach, Chapter 3, Verse 2:  ‘The Lord sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority He confirms over her sons.’ “

Mom nodded.  “And even with these examples, just think of the authority that Jesus has!  He has authority over the entire heaven and the entire earth.  Everything that has been created, or ever will be created, is under the power and authority of Jesus!”

“Wow!” exclaimed Lucy, as she thought of the incredible authority that Jesus has.  “Talk about what can be learned from just four verses!”

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

Our mission is to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be “the first and foremost educators of their children” and to help families grow in the transforming love of God by understanding and living our beautiful Catholic Faith!

Are you looking for more ways to help your family reclaim Sundays and grow closer to Jesus together?

• Help Father dress for Mass with our Priest Paper Doll.
• Learn about the Liturgical Year in a big-picture way with our Liturgical Calendar
• Follow Family Formation’s blog, connect with us on Facebook, and on Instagram.
• Meet the Pauline family.