The Holy Martyr Sebastian and His Companions
Nativity Fast. Abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read
2 Timothy 4:9-22; Luke 20:1-8
Today’s Gospel lesson shows us how our Lord deals with people who approach the faith with malicious intent. The chief priests, scribes and elders corner the Lord in order to discredit him. They want him to reply, “I cleansed the temple by my own authority.” The authorities would claim blasphemy and would then have reason to stone Jesus for claiming to have more authority than God. But if he answered, “I cleansed the temple by God’s authority”, they could create confusion among the people for many were beginning to believe Jesus is God. Instead of engaging in debate, which in this case would prove unfruitful, Jesus brilliantly asks them about John the Forerunner. He knew that if they could accept John as a prophet sent by God that John’s witness and testimony about Jesus being the Lamb of God (John 1:29) would compel them to accept Jesus. Since their hearts were filled with evil intention the Lord would not honour them with an answer. Jesus models for us his teaching, “Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matt 7:6). Inauthentic, evil and malicious intent to hurt and destroy someone turns human beings into dogs and swine—animals Jews detested and considered unclean. By not sharing with them his sacred identity he prevents them from committing the sin of sacrilege, which would further separate them from God and make it harder for them to come to know the Truth of the Gospel.