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Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Jude 17, 20b-25
Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel Mk 11:27-33
S
UMMARY
Our first reading comes from the majestic closing doxology from the short
book of Jude. We respond by singing My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord
my God. Mark tells us once again the chief priests, scribes and elders are
attempting to discredit him by asking about his authority. Jesus turns the
tables on the leaders.
R
EFLECTION
The chief priests, the scribes and the elders were the three component
sections of the Sanhedrin the supreme religious authority of the Jews. Je-
sus had innate authority that owed nothing to them: that is why they felt so
threatened. Predictable, what followed was a non-conversation.
I have lots of non-conversation with people. I ask about something and
they say they will get back to me. They often do not. I often wonder why.
Is it that they do not know the answer and they don˅t want to admit their
ignorance? Is it that they forgot? Could it be that they don˅t want to tell
me because they don˅t like me? Or do they want to be in charge and
withhold information? When I complain about such experiences to God, I
often hear God suggest that, ˈyou˅re discontent because someone else is
in charge and you want to be.ˉ Often true! So then I ask God, ˈWhy O
Lord? What makes my heart closed like the hearts of the Jewish leader-
ship? Why am I threatened?ˉ
Some time ago I was faced with very disappointing news. A rejection letter
was sent to my child. Tears of disappointment, anger, and hurt filled our
whole family. We were devastated. We were not in charge! After a few