PRI Reflections on Scripture • 6-1-24 - Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

Gospel Mark 11:27-33
Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?" Jesus said to them, "I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me." They discussed this among themselves and said, "If we say, 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But shall we say, 'Of human origin'?"– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." Then Jesus said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Reflection Jesus in this passage exposes something in the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. They had a position of authority, but they had no interior authority, because they did not open themselves to the source of all authority. And that's authenticity. The truth. And when Jesus poses a problem for them, and their answer is, they do not know. They weren't admitting that they don't know, but what Jesus wanted them to say is, we don't listen to your truth.
Closing Prayer Father, open our eyes and our minds to your truth. It is the one gift that you have given us that can change the world and free it from all illusion and lies. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.