Blessed Virgin Mary

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Sirach 51:12cd-20

 That is why I will give you thanks and praise

And bless the Name of the Lord. In my youth, before I set out on my tra­v­els, I openly sought wisdom in prayer; before the Temple I asked for her and I will pursue her to the end of my days.  While she blossomed like a ripening cluster, my heart was delighted in her; my feet followed the right path, because from my youth I searched for her. As soon as I began listening to her she was given to me, and with her, much instruction. 

With her help I made progress and I will glorify him who gives me wisdom, for I decided to put it into practice and ardently seek what is good. I shall not regret it.  My soul has struggled to possess her. I have been attentive to observe the Law, and after my faults I have stretched out my hands to heaven and lamented my ignorance of her.  My love of her increased and I found her in repentance. It was through her from the beginning that I learned to possess my heart. She will not forsake me.

 

Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

    

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

Mark 11:27-33

 They were once again in Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the Temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the Law and the elders came to him   and asked, “What authority do you have to act like this? Who gave you authority to do the things you do?”

 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you a question, only one, and if you give me an answer, then I will tell you what authority I have to act like this.  Was John’s preaching and baptism a work of God, or was it merely something human? Answer me.”

 And they kept arguing among them­selves, “If we answer that it was a work of God, he will say: ‘Why then did you not believe him?’”   But neither could they answer before the people that the baptism of John was mere­ly something human, for everyone regarded John as a prophet.   So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know,” and Jesus said to them, “Neith­er will I tell you what authority I have to act as I do.”

   

 Gospel Reflection：

Those who are insecure in their own leadership are always on the lookout for those who are confident in their own power and authority. It irks their pride in noting how this other assumes their role with confident ease. That is why the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and the Elders question Jesus earnestly on his authority to do what he is doing.

They are not secure in their own authority. But why is Jesus so confident of His own power and authority. It is because it emanates from Himself. It is a power that is Personal and not derived.