Today's Scripture readings combine into a ringing assertion that power and authority are vested in the individual for the sake of service. A daily reading of the newspapers and a regular diet of T.V and radio will convince us that this challenging assertion is very essential now and, indeed, always. There has always been a selfish pursuit of power and authority but modern means of communication make such selfishness more apparent.

Today's first reading is from the end of the famous "Fourth Servant Psalm" of Isaiah. Isaiah describes a sinless Servant who makes up for the sins of others and saves them from punishment. Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of this Servant.

The second reading assures us that we can have great confidence in Jesus Christ because high, noble and holy as He was, He was defenceless. He did not dominate; he served.

The message of the Gospel is so clear that prayer, not explanation, is needed to enable us to live with its implications.

Today we must pray that those who wield power will use it well. We must include ourselves in these prayers.