Gospel Mark
11:27-33
Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Reflection
Human nature has revealed a weakness. It's prone to imagining that it is the source of all truth, and that the only thing that should be are the things that they believe should be. They become their own authority. And Jesus so clearly revealing the heart of the problem of the temple.
It's human beings creating an institution that serves them. And they're the final word, not the scriptures, not God, but they are the one who determines reality.

Closing Prayer
Father, it's not so much that we fall into a trap of thinking that we know all the answers, but the real problem is we're not open to the answers that you are there to give to us. You are the source of all truth. And without that source, we are lost in terms of being able to make the decisions that bring us into your kingdom. Open our minds. Open our hearts to the truth that you have taught us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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