Jesus Teaching in the Temple

This meditation is based on a passage for June 29, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Matthew 21:23-32

Reflection and Question: The first part of this section on Jesus in the temple is also in Mark 11:27-33 and Luke 20:1-8. It is Jesus at His wiliest as He avoids revealing to His opponents the source of His authority. Only faith can sustain us as we share that same question about authority with the priests and elders. The second part of this passage is unique to Matthew. In a sharp contrast, Jesus captures the difference between the pious and the faithful, explaining in a nutshell why He prefers to hang out with tax collectors and prostitutes. Are you more like the tax collectors or the priests? Why?

Prayer: Living Spirit, fill us with wisdom to understand these stories of old. May Jesus find us faithful, even in the face of His silence about His authority. May we say, “Yes,” when He calls and do what He asks, through Your power working in us. Amen.