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Gospel Reading for June 1, 2024 – Mark 11: 27-33
CALLING
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.”
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It is written that AUTHORITY is needed to: 1) provide order and security in people’s lives; 2) manage and resolve conflicts peacefully and fairly; 3) protect important rights and freedom; and 4) ensure that benefits and burdens will be distributed fairly. The chief priests, the elders, the Pharisees and scribes, prided themselves as being the AUTHORITY in the interpretation and implementation of the Mosaic Law. Hence, they were always on the lookout, trying to catch Jesus if he did anything against the Mosaic Law. What is funny though, is that nowhere in the list above does it include the need for AUTHORITY to do good things such as: bringing the sick back to good health, giving freedom from demons, making the dead rise, giving hope to the downtrodden, etc.
We do not need AUTHORITY to do good. Doing good is a basic trait of one made in the image and likeness of God. As a matter of fact, it is the CALLING of every human being.
Lord Jesus, help us to never stop from doing good even in the midst of adversities!
