With great power and authority, there must also be responsibility and accountability.
And since all are equal and have the right to be treated equally, then those are given authority and power must be responsible and accountable to the vulnerable.
In the gospel, we hear of a man who had great power and authority.
Being a king, Herod made sure he had power and held on to power by being ruthless and merciless.
John the Baptist was of no threat to him whatsoever, but Herod had him imprisoned and later executed him for no reason at all.
Herod will be held responsible and accountable for the evil that he did when he meets the Lord face to face.
We too need to realise that we have been given great power.
The 1st reading tells us that God said this - I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing, what can man do to me?
Yes, we have the power of God to help us overcome our trials and fears.
But it is with the power of God that we love each other and help others in their need.
That is a great power that we are given. We have to be responsible and accountable to that.