30Th MAY.SATURDAY IN WEEK 8

READINGS

1.Sirach 51:12-20( in Praise of wisdom)

2.Gospel: Mark 11:27-33( Jesus will explain his authority if others will state their judgement on John's ministry)

REFLECTION AND MEDITATIONS

" By what authority?"

Today's gospel comes just after Jesus cleansed the temple, which was a very daring thing to do.  Jesus in walking in the temple did a thing which the authorized people of the temple did not allow him to do. They put the question regarding to teaching authority of Jesus. This happened towards the end of Jesus public ministry. At the beginning of his ministry according to Marks gospel, the ordinary people were so astonished with what Jesus did. Jesus spoke and acted with God's authority. Nevertheless, our concern here is all about what kind of authority was this?this was the liberating authority, it was not all about using of physical power to dominate people, rather this was an authority of service and attending to those who were in need. As baptized Christians we all need this sort of authority. The authority of Jesus demands each one of to live virtuous life( love, kindness, forgiveness, forbearance, humility) this has to be the point of reference in our life as Christians. To day in our church we are being challenged by the same question posed to Jesus by Jewish authority that what will we take as our authority? The gospel on this account gives us a clear answer that Jesus is one who embodies the authentic authority of God an authority that animates us to become fully human alive. Thus we need to accept the authority of God with trust and obedience.