TBD

Having accomplished his mission, John knows how to step aside, he withdraws from the scene to make way for Jesus. (…) He is not interested in having a following for himself, in gaining prestige and success, but rather bears witness and then takes a step back, so that many would have the joy of meeting Jesus. We can say: he opens the door, then he leaves. With this spirit of service, with his capacity to give way to Jesus, John the Baptist teaches us an important thing: freedom from attachments. Yes, because it is easy to become attached to roles and positions, to the need to be esteemed, recognized and rewarded. And this, although natural, is not a good thing, because service involves gratuitousness. (…) It is good for us, too, to cultivate, like John, the virtue of setting ourselves aside at the right moment (…) To step aside, to learn to take one’s leave: I have completed this mission, I have had this meeting, I will step aside and leave room for the Lord. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 15 January 2023)

SOURCE: Word of the Day (Vatican News)

The Temple Showdown: Jesus Cleanses the Courts and Confounds His Accusers

After casting out the animal-merchants and moneychangers from the Temple immediately after the Palm Sunday procession, Jesus started teaching in the Temple courts. Hence, the chief priests and elders of the people approached Jesus, challenging his authority to enter the city in a triumphal procession, allowing the children to acclaim him, curing the sick, casting out the merchants and moneychangers and teaching in the Temple area. It was a trap. If Jesus claimed Divine authority, as the Messiah, they would bring a charge of blasphemy. Jesus could not claim only human authority without denying His very Being as Son of God as well as Son of Man. But even if He could, His arrest as a mad Zealot would give scandal, another sin, and would damage the simple Faith of the people present  in the Temple and what it stood for, destroying Jesus’ whole Messianic Mission. So, Jesus refused to answer, unless they would first answer His counter-challenge — were the mission and message of John the Baptist from God or man? Was the source of John’s vocation and message Divine or human? If they answered Divine, the questioners would be asked to explain why they had not accepted John’s message and his witness-bearing that Jesus was the Messiah. If they answered human, they would have to face the anger of the crowd who had accepted John as a prophet. Hence, they, too, kept silent, opting for a shameful self-humiliation.

Life Message

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Life message:  In religious matters we should not ask the question whether our stand is safe, politically correct, or useful.  Instead, we need to stand for God’s truth and obey His commandments with the courage of our Christian convictions even if it costs us our lives.

SOURCE: Fr. Tony’s Homilies

“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things”

(v 27)

When Jesus entered the Temple Precincts, he saw merchants who were changing unsuitable currency into the correct currency to pay the Temple tax of one half-shekel, and for purchasing animals for sacrifice. Jesus was filled with righteous anger, and he cleansed the temple of its merchants and traders (Zec 14:21). The religious leaders were outraged, and they demanded to know on whose authority he acted. Knowing that his opponents were accusing him of blasphemy, Jesus counter-questioned them. He asked where John got his authority to baptize. Was it of divine or human origin? This posed a dilemma for the religious leaders. If they said John’s work was merely human, the people would be disturbed as they considered John to be a prophet. If they said John’s work was by divine authority, then why had they opposed him, and why did they now oppose Jesus? Because they refused to answer, they abdicated their position as teachers. Jesus was the true interpreter of God’s law.

REFLECTING: Do I avoid speaking the truth on controversial issues for fear of rejection?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to recognize and obey the authority of your words.​

SOURCE: Together with God’s Word