“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.” Mark 11:29–30
This is Jesus’ response to the chief priests, the scribes, and the
elders when they approached Jesus in the Temple area and asked Him
by what authority He did the things He did. And what was it that
Jesus did? The day before, Jesus had been in the Temple and drove
the money changers out, telling them, “Is it not written: ‘My house
shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples’? But you have
made it a den of thieves.” This outraged the religious leaders, and
they immediately began to discuss how they could put Jesus to
death.
Consider, first, the tension in the air. They literally were
plotting to put Jesus, the Son of God, to death. They were filled
with hatred and jealousy and refused to believe in Him. Jesus saw
their hardness of heart and put them on the spot to first answer
His question before He would answer theirs. Why would Jesus do
this?
The question Jesus asked them was actually an act of great mercy on
His part. He gave them an opportunity to repent. If they had only
answered His question with humble faith and honesty, they could
have saved their lives. Instead, they discussed among themselves
His question and gave the politically correct answer. If they had
said John’s baptism was of human origin, and not from God, they
were afraid that the people would turn on them. So they simply
said, “We do not know.” But imagine if they would have given the
right answer. What if they had discussed it among themselves and
concluded that John’s baptism truly was from God and that they
should have believed in him? If they would have only humbled
themselves, admitted that they had gravely erred in regard to John,
then Jesus would have answered their question, and their life of
true faith could have begun. But they didn’t. They remained
obstinate. They could not admit they were wrong.
Obstinacy is among the most dangerous of sins. It’s a sin that
cannot be forgiven, because, in essence, it’s a refusal to change.
And when a person refuses to admit their sin, and refuses to
change, then God cannot help them. They remain lost in their sin
and suffer the consequences. Do you struggle with obstinacy in your
life? Do you find it difficult to admit when you are wrong? Do you
find it difficult to apologize to another and seek to change?
Reflect, today, upon anything you remain obstinate about. Are there
matters of faith that you refuse to believe? Are there broken
relationships that you refuse to humbly restore? Do you justify
your sin and refuse to admit your guilt and need to change? Pray to
our Lord for the gift of a humble heart. Humility, in many ways, is
nothing other than being completely honest with yourself and others
before God. Do not follow the example of these religious leaders.
Humbly seek to remove all obstinacy from your heart so that Our
Lord can enter in and bring His mercy into your life.
My unwavering Jesus, You confront those who are proud, arrogant
and obstinate with much strength and love. You do so to help them
overcome their stubbornness of heart. Give me the grace of
humility, dear Lord, so that I will always be able to admit my sin
and turn to You in love. Jesus, I trust in You.
Source of content:
catholic-daily-reflections.com
Copyright 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved.
Used with permission via RSS feed.
Featured image above: The Chief Priests Ask Jesus by What
Right Does He Act in This Way ByJames Tissot, via Wikimedia
Commons
Kommentare (0)
Melde dich an, um einen Kommentar zu schreiben.