Posted on 05/29/2026 10:01:50 PM PDT by fidelis
Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Mark 11:27–28
Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem for Passover, which would culminate in His death. In the preceding months, Jesus prepared His disciples for this final journey, telling them three times that He would be handed over in Jerusalem, suffer, die, and rise again. Each time, the disciples failed to grasp the full meaning of His words.
The week began with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The next day, Jesus drove the money changers, merchants, and others out of the Temple. As the week progressed, hostilities grew. Today, Jesus is confronted by the chief priests, scribes, and elders. Later in the week, He will face opposition from the Herodians, Pharisees, and Sadducees. Each of these groups held significant civil and religious authority within the Jewish community.
The chief priests oversaw Temple worship. The scribes were experts in Jewish Law. The elders were respected lay leaders within the community. The Herodians were politically motivated supporters of Herod and Roman rule. The Pharisees focused on strict observance of the Law and oral traditions. The Sadducees denied beliefs, such as the resurrection and angels, and cooperated with Roman authorities to protect their positions.
While Roman authorities governed Jerusalem civilly, the religious leaders held significant influence over the Temple and the enforcement of Jewish laws, matters that were of little concern to the Romans. The religious leaders could arrest people, but they lacked the authority to execute anyone—an authority they ultimately sought to use against Jesus. Tragically, they became icons of hostility and evil as they persecuted the Son of God.
In today’s Gospel, the chief priests, scribes, and elders confronted Jesus: “By what authority are You doing these things?” This challenge was likely in response to Jesus’ actions the previous day when He cleansed the Temple. The tension and hostility were palpable. The disciples were fearful, and those observing took sides—some angry at Jesus, others concerned for what might happen to Him.
Jesus’ disposition and response to these icons of hostility and evil offer insight into how we must confront every diabolical attack and temptation in our own lives. Jesus was calm, firm, and fearless. He revealed their dishonesty, trickery, and evil intent when He said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or human origin? Answer me.”
The religious leaders didn’t know what to say. Any answer they gave would have revealed their malice and dishonesty, so they said, “We do not know.” Jesus responded, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things” (Mark 11:33). Jesus was not intimidated and exposed their dishonesty.
Reflect today on any hostility you might encounter. If it seems senseless and leaves you feeling oppressed or fearful, turn to Jesus as your guide. Hostile irrationality can arise from many sources, even those close to us. We must resist the temptation to return hostility with hostility, but neither should we give in to fear. Our response must be rational, calm, and firm, just as Jesus demonstrated. Our Lord’s witness should not only result in our admiration and praise, but also in our imitation, relying on His grace to confront evil as He did.
Most courageous Lord, You never allowed the anger and deception of others to oppress You or fill You with fear. You faced every evil with confidence and wisdom, unmasking its irrationality. Grant me Your courage and wisdom as I confront the evils in my life, so that I may live with confidence and security in Your grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
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The Month of May is Dedicated to Devotion to Mary, the Mother of God.
“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:41-43)
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of May, 2026:
That everyone might have food
Let us pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.
Today’s First Reading
From: Jude 17, 20-25
It Was Predicted That False Teachers Would Appear
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[17] But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; [18] they said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." [19] It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
Faith, Hope and Charity
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[20] But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; [21] keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Attitude Towards the Misguided
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[22] And convince some, who doubt; [23] save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Doxology
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[24] Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, [25] to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen.
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Commentary:
17-19. In their initial oral teaching, the Apostles who founded the various Christian communities warned of the danger of false teachers within the Church itself (cf. Acts 20:29f; 1 Tim, 4:1-3; 2 Tim 3:1-5). These warnings can be traced back to what Christ himself said: "False Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect" (Mt 24:24).
The way the writer refers to "the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ" does not mean that he was not one of them. He could be referring simply to the fact that some of them had already died. The other point about this verse is the importance it gives to Tradition (cf. note on v. 3).
"In the last time" (v. 18): in the Prophets this expression refers to the messianic era (cf., e.g., Is 2:2; Mic 4:1), which brings to an end the long period of waiting for the promised Redeemer and marks the start of the Kingdom of God, which will last forever (cf. Dan 7:14, 27; Lk 1:33). The fullness of time (cf. Gal 4:4) began with the coming of Christ and will reach its zenith with his return in glory for the Last Judgment. In the New Testament perspective, therefore, "the last time" covers the entire period of the Christian era; it is the era of the Church. This earthly phase of the Kingdom of God is characterized, by, among other things, the presence of the "good" and the "bad" side by side (cf. Mt 13:47-48), the cockle sown among the wheat (cf. Mt 13:24ff).
"Worldly people": "psychikoi", literally, "animal" or "natural" men. As in some texts of St Paul (cf. 1 Cor 2:14; 15:44-46), these are the opposite of "spiritual" men, that is, Christians who have the Holy Spirit and are docile to him (cf. Rom 5:5; 8:14). On the other hand, those who are "devoid of the Spirit", who is the source of supernatural life, form judgments and make decisions under the sole guidance of human nature wounded by original sin. Theirs is a merely earthly wisdom (cf. Jas 3:15), a wisdom of the flesh (cf. 1 Cor 3:3).
20-21. The Christian life can be summed up as living the three theological virtues (faith, hope and charity, accompanied by prayer), through the action of each of the three divine Persons--the love of God the Father, the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
The spiritual building is founded on faith, that is, on the truths revealed by God for our salvation and delivered once for all to the Church (cf. v. 3). Therefore it is a "most holy" faith--of divine origin, worthy of the highest respect, and unchangeable. Prayer is essential for penetrating deeper and deeper into the unfathomable riches of the faith. The Christian prays "in the Holy Spirit" because, as St Paul teaches, "you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, 'Abba, Father!' ..." (Rom 8:15); and "the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words" (Rom 8:26). To the love of God (the source of divine filiation in the Holy Spirit) the Christian should respond by striving to abide in that love and constantly increase it. Trust in God's help and in his mercy build up our hope of ultimately seeing the Lord face to face.
The Second Vatican Council reminds us that the faithfulness of a Christian's life depends on active communion with Christ: "A life like this calls for a continuous exercise of faith, hope and charity. Only the light of faith and meditation on the Word of God can enable us to find God everywhere and always [...]. Those with such a faith live in the hope of the revelation of the sons of God, keeping in mind the cross and resurrection of the Lord [...]. With the love that comes from God's prompting, they do good to all, especially to their brothers in the faith (cf. Gal 6:10)" ("Apostolicam Actuositatem", 4).
22-23. The Apostle now gives some-practical advice on how to behave towards those who have been affected by false ideas.
The Greek text can be read in various ways. According to some codexes and the Vulgate, it is referring to three categories of people -- waverers; those who have already been harmed by error but can still be recovered; and those who persist in heresy. That is how the RSV translates it. Other codexes, followed by the New Vulgate, first give a counsel valid for dealings with everyone affected by error and then go on to distinguish two groups--those who can still be recovered and those who seem to be beyond help.
Christians should always show kindness to those who break with sound teaching. In this way they will attract many back to the faith; but there will be others with whom they will not succeed; in their case, particularly if their lifestyle is depraved, it will be necessary to be prudent (to hate "even the garment spotted by the flesh"), in order to avoid contagion; but one should still treat them affectionately and pray for them. "It is a characteristic of the perfect", St Augustine teaches, "not to hate anything in sinners other than their sins; and to love those people themselves" ("Contra Adimantum", XVII, 5).
24-25. The letter does not end with the usual greetings but with a solemn doxology or hymn of praise addressed to God the Father through Jesus Christ. It may have come from a liturgical hymn.
"Only God"; this does not exclude the divinity of the Son and the Holy Spirit; it is simply confessing that there is only one God (cf. In 17:3).
God reveals his power particularly in the work of our salvation. We constantly need his grace if we are to avoid sin in this life and one day obtain the glory of heaven. Jesus Christ is the Mediator both of our salvation and of our praise of God. From the beginning the Church has had the custom of addressing liturgical prayer to the Father through Jesus Christ.
From: Mark 11:27-33
Jesus' Authority
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[27] And they (Jesus and his disciples) came to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, [28] and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?" [29] Jesus said to them, "I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. [30] Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me." [31] And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did not you not believe him?' [32] But shall we say, 'From men'?"--they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was a real prophet. [33] So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
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Commentary:
27-33. Those who put this question to Jesus are the same people as, some days earlier, sought to destroy him (cf. Mk 11:18). They represent the official Judaism of the period (cf. note on Mt 2:4). Jesus had already given proofs and signs of being the Messiah, in his miracles and preaching; and St. John the Baptist had borne witness about who Jesus was. This is why, before replying, our Lord asks them to recognize the truth proclaimed by the Precursor. But they do not want to accept this truth; nor do they want to reject it publicly, out of fear of the people. Since they are not ready to admit their mistake, any further explanation Jesus might offer would serve no purpose.
This episode has many parallels in everyday life: anyone who seeks to call God to account will be confounded.
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