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.” MT 21:23-27
In several places in the Gospels and New Testament, Jesus tells us by what authority he does things. He is one with the Father who is in Him and He is in Him.
29″My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30″I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. JN 10:30
John 1:1,2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the …
John 5:17,23 But Jesus answered them, My Father works till now, and I work…
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 14:9,23 Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have …
John 16:15 All things that the Father has are mine: therefore said I, that he …
John 17:10,21 And all my are yours, and your are mine; and I am glorified in them…
Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knows the …
Matthew 28:19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name …
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was …
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the …
1 John 5:7,20 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, …
In today’s Gospel, it is not about the authority by which Jesus does things. It is by what authority do the Jews do things. They cannot answer Jesus’ question showing that they do not speak with authority or have the authority of God like Jesus does. Jesus speaks with authority because He is God. Take time to reflect on this reality; Jesus is God. Do you really believe? How well do you know Jesus? How much time and effort do you put into your studies, work, entertainment? How much of your time do you seek out Jesus and try to gain knowledge of Him. Find Him in your heart in silence, in the Scriptures, in the YouCat or Catechism of the Catholic Church, in spiritual books, in the Eucharist at Mass, in Reconciliation, in Adoration, and in a Church in the tabernacle.
Today’s challenge: Spend time with Jesus everyday. Learn one new thing about Him each day. It will always break down to love and compassion for God and others. Apply it to your life.
We are saints in training! Become a saint!
Christian YOLO
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