Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, Jesus shows us why his opponents have such a hard time with him and ultimately reject him. It begins when they ask him a question: “by what authority are you doing these things?” This seems like an honest question, but what Jesus does in answer shows that it is not. Jesus tells them that he will ask them a question and if they answer honestly, he will answer their question. His question concerns the baptism of John the Baptist: was it from God or of human origins?
Rather than telling Jesus what they really think about the baptism of John the Baptist, they discuss among themselves the repercussions of the different answers they could give. They say among themselves that if they answer, “from God,” then Jesus will ask them why they didn’t believe in him. But they are also concerned that if they reject John the Baptist as coming from God, the people will turn away from them. What they show is that they are not concerned with the truth of the matter; they are only concerned with maintaining their power and status.
Contrast this with another enemy of Christ. After the Ascension of Jesus, Saul went around persecuting the growing Christian movement because he considered Jesus to be an imposter and a threat to Jewish faith and tradition. But when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, Saul was converted and became St. Paul, one of Christ’s most devoted believers, and one of the greatest missionaries of the early church.
St. Paul cared about the truth, unlike the other opponents of Jesus. And so, when he recognized his error, he turned to the truth and became an Apostle of Jesus. Jesus can work with people even if they are mistaken, as long as they want to know the truth. So, we should seek the truth in all things, and especially in the things of God.
Reflection by Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections