When Jesus had come into the temple area,
the chief priests and the elders of the people approached 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 in reply,
“I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.
Where was John’s baptism from?
Was it of heavenly or of human origin?”
They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd,
for they all regard John as a prophet.”
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”
He himself said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Jesus came to heal hearts. To heal lives. To bring people out of darkness and wandering lost with no purpose or meaning in life.
He posed the question to the priests and elders because he knew their hearts were closed and they asked dishonest questions.
They did not seek to know whose authority he had to perform miracles and healings. To proclaim the good news that he had preached.
They sought to kill and destroy the hope the people had placed on Jesus for it threatened their status quo. It challenged their power and their exalted position in society.
So, when Jesus, the Word of God was presented to them they rejected him. They asked without seeking truth.
They listened with ears and hearts that refused to believe truth and wisdom.
They refused to look in their own hearts and ask what do I really believe? They refused the will and spirit of God.
Sometimes we can be the ones asking for an answer from God when we don’t want to know the truth either. We actually just want our own opinion to be justified. Our own poor choices in life vindicated. But Jesus doesn’t come to approve of behaviors and proclaim that everyone can believe what they want and create their own truth.
Wisdom and truth are embodied in Jesus Christ. He does not change or evolve to suit this persons view or that human institution, for he was from the beginning.
When we approach Jesus Christ it must be his will and his truth we seek. And even our questions will be answered. When our intentions are driven by the wrong motive or we are not understanding truth, we will find he will not have the answer for us either.
That is why it is crucial we always seek his will and open our hearts to him so he can show us the way forward.
Christmas is near and we will soon celebrate the coming of Jesus into our world. It’s a fantastic time to give him everything and let ourselves be open to his will and truth. So it’s a time of prayer and spending more time with Jesus in adoration and even daily mass. Be close to the one you want to show you the truth about your mission and meaning in life.
Many people seek to fill what is missing in their world and this is a season we often think that gift or this new device or even this new person will fill that void. But the only one who knows how to bring peace to our hearts and truth to our life is Jesus Christ. And in the end we all want to be living our lives in truth and love .
Sit with Jesus this week and ask him not for things, but to know your own path to him. You might be surprised. You might even be transformed. The road Jesus has planned for us is a hundred time more fulfilling. Richer in joy and peace and meaning.
Jesus came to heal hearts. To heal lives. To bring people out of darkness and wandering lost with no purpose or meaning in life.
And we all want that, don’t we?
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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