Gospel – Matthew 21: 23-27
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.
Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.”
So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Mary D.
Reflection:
In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges you to take a stand for the truth, even when it costs you dearly? Or do you look for the safe way out? Jesus told his disciples that the truth would set them free. Why were the religious opposed to Jesus and evasive with the truth? Did they fear the praise of their friends and neighbours more than the praise of God for those who stand up to his truth?
God’s kingdom or reign on the earth will inevitably produce conflict, a conflict of allegiance to God’s will or my will, God’s way of love and justice or the worlds way of playing honestly, God’s standard of moral truth or the truth in what I want to believe is good and useful for the time being? Why did the religious leaders oppose Jesus and reject his claim to divine authority? There view of religion did not match with Gods word because their hearts were set on personal gain rather than truth and submission to God’s plan and design for their lives.
They could not except John or Jesus because they clearly did not want to know the TRUTH and lets remember the TRUTH will set us FREE!
- Do you know the joy and freedom of living according to God’s truth?
