15 December 2014— GOSPEL MT 21:23-27

Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent

GOSPEL MT 21:23-27

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."

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, when Jesus entered d temple, d chief priests & d elders began to question His authority. Bz they wanted to know d source of Jesus' authority.

The chief priests & d elders were upset bz acc. to them Jesus was acting on His authority. So they stand against Jesus in judgment bz they were jealous of Jesus & wanted to trap Him.

Authority lies at d heart of every individual. When v r in authority, sometimes v think that d whole world is under our feet. V feel jealous when somebody else is made incharge & this is what v see in today's Gospel.

Let us ask ourselves, wt authority v act at home, at our work place??????????????
Am I using my authority wt responsibility??????????? Or
Am I using it to dominate others???????????????????????

Jesus loves u. Hv a gr8 week wt Jesus. God bless.