The scene in today’s Gospel is a direct challenge to Jesus’s authority. Recall the context of the event: It is just before the start of Holy Week. At the beginning of this chapter in Matthew, Jesus is preparing to enter Jerusalem where he knows he will be arrested and crucified. He sends two disciples to get the donkey on which he will ride into his passion and death. The donkey stands as a sign of his identity as both King and Savior (see Zechariah 9:9).
Next, is the notable event when Jesus overturns the moneychangers’ tables in the Temple. It is time for action and seriousness. He has been with them for three years, and still, they do not understand. It is time for him to take claim of His Father’s house and call them to repentance.
Soon after (perhaps the next day) is when Jesus approaches the Temple area in today’s Gospel, and he is questioned by the chief priests and elders: “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” vs. 23
There is a reason Jesus is called Teacher! It is because he is precise and masterful, not only in His words but in the way he conveys them. He refrains from giving them a direct answer and instead employs a question – asking them whether John’s baptism was of heavenly or human origin. They are stumped, knowing that either reply has consequences or exposes their ulterior motives. When they refuse to answer, claiming ignorance, he too refuses to give them the answer they seek. He leaves them instead with a gift – the lingering question.
Jesus has been among them all this time: healing, teaching, preaching, and still, they do not know or understand him or his mission. Why? Because while they heard with their ears, they had not listened with their hearts. He leaves the question with the hope that it may bore into their hearts for serious reflection.
Our Questions
Life brings all kinds of difficulties and tangled circumstances that we often feel unprepared to confront. The “messiness” of life includes discord in marriages, critical illnesses, troubles with children, financial challenges, and all kinds of unexpected twists and turns.
It can be very tempting, especially after exhausting our own logic and resources to address them, to toss our hands up to God and ask the looming question – WHY? Maybe we do not phrase the question the same way – “By what authority…”, but we should realize that the “Why” question carries the same attitude of the heart.
The King and I
However, here is the secret: the answer to the WHY question is already plainly revealed for one whose heart lives in the Fiat – the YES to whatever He wills. Because we believe in his Divine and Perfect love for us, we are never outside of His care! Whatever storms come our way, if we are in full surrender to His plan, then we have the confident assurance: “that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8: 28)
Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King. To acknowledge our Beautiful Savior as King means He must be the Lord of every aspect of our lives – even the parts we do not understand.
As we are just about one week away from celebrating the Birth of Christ, let us ponder the baby in the manger – not as a sentimental scene from a Hallmark card, but rather its radical implications in our lives. He came as a helpless child to save all His helpless children. He came as a humble baby who would begin his existence fleeing for his life to show us, He is Lord of all circumstances.
Let our lives reflect the truth of this great adventure of our love and total dependence on our Father and King, who is wise, powerful, and always victorious!
