Never Answer Dishonest People - February 29, 2024 DD

"You don't allow corrupt people to hold you accountable." Today's reading from Mark 11 reminded us that Jesus did not yield to the priests, teachers, and elders when they interrogated him; instead, he responded as someone with authority. This reading teaches us prudence by carefully identifying those who have the right intentions. And by then, we should only submit to people with honest intentions and not those with corrupted hearts.

Mark 11:27-33 NLT
Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. They demanded, "By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?" "I'll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. "Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!" They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe John. But do we dare say it was merely human?" For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. So they finally replied, "We don't know." And Jesus responded, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I do these things."