Monday of the
Third Week of Advent
(Numbers 24:2-17.15-17a; Matthew 21:23-27)
After United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld’s
tragic death nearly fifty years ago a controversy arose regarding his stature in
history. To many he was a hero – one who
worked tirelessly for the poor of the earth confronting the powers while living
like a monk. To others he was an activist
trouble-maker whose celibacy shielded homosexual practice. A recent biography correlating his famous
journal Markings with a factual
account of his life published eight years after his death strongly asserts the
truth of the former evaluation. Hammarskjöld’s
story mirrors the controversy at the heart of today’s gospel.
Jesus is being harassed because he, in the terms of Pope
Francis, is a “minister(s) of mercy above all.”
He dialogues with sinners so that they might appreciate God’s love for
them. He champions simple hearts who
cannot follow the burdensome rules of the Pharisees. When the Temple authorities question him
regarding his authority to take such stands, he deftly discerns their purpose
and throws a similar question back at them.
Unable to answer without losing face with the people, the Jewish leaders
withdraw their pursuit of Jesus for a time.
Not all confronting authority are heroes. Some indeed are rogues, and others may be
misguided. We must discern before
passing judgment and giving support. Perhaps
even more critical, however, is our perspective on authority. We should respect it until there is good
reason not to. But we shouldn’t ingratiate
ourselves to it, or we may find ourselves – quite unlike Jesus – compromising justice.
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