Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
(II Samuel 6:12b-15.17-19; Mark 3:31-35)
In today’s reading from II Samuel, David consolidates his
power over Israel. He has been anointed
the nation’s king. Now he shows himself as
its religious leader as well. By
capturing attention in the procession with the Ark of the Covenant, David is
claiming to be the people’s de facto “high priest.”
Kings and presidents throughout history have sought high
status in religious affairs. The term
for religious along with political supremacy is “caesaropapism.” Roman emperors after Constantine relished this
dual authority. Henry VIII proclaimed
himself head of the Church of England.
For all practical purposes Louis XIV did likewise in France. Vladimir Putin seems to wield religious power
in Russia today.
Most societies today, however, have firmly separated
religious from political authority. Political
authority needs an independent religious counterweight to critique its determinations. The converse is true as well. Religious
authority can become tyrannical so that government should restrain its overreaching.
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