April 15                                                                Mark 11:27-33

Tuesday in Holy Week wouldn't seem to be a time to be funny, but I find Jesus slyly and humorously outfoxing the religious leaders. As usual, he answers questions on his own terms, this time turning the tables on his opponents.

The issue through it all is authority. The supposed authority of the leaders is bogus, rooted in coercion and manipulation. They can't even answer Jesus' question for fear of being caught in their hypocrisy. Jesus' authority, on the other hand, is real, grounded in the integrity of his life, the consonance of word and action. This will be revealed on the Cross to be an authority of love, generating a power that will conquer death itself.

What claims authority over your life, over my life? Is it fear and anxiety from a world that says look out for number one, be defensive, cling tight? Or is it the authority of Jesus, bringing a sense of joy and hope, a generosity of spirit?

Rev. Bill Locke