Believe
I am quicker to believe in something that makes sense to me than something that is or sounds absurd.
Even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. - Matthew 21:32
You would think that seeing it with my own eyes would be enough proof, but sometimes what I see and what I want to see are out of sync.
In today's reading from Matthew, Jesus is challenged to explain his authority. His accusers have already made up their minds, deciding that Jesus was looking to stir up trouble.
He was clearly challenging the norm and making the leaders uncomfortable. If Jesus spoke with authority, what did that mean for their ability to rule and lead?
It may seem obvious to us that the leaders needed to change their ways, to welcome those in need of salvation and accept them as brothers and sisters.
It boils down to a black and white issue. There is no opportunity to compromise and that is what makes this so important.
Ironically, the laws being challenged evolved over time. They came about through interpretation, but over time they became stone. Jesus tried to show them their building was built on the wrong foundation. It is not about you and your salvation, he was telling them. It is about the ones who they need to serve.
In the end, though, the ones who got the message were the ones who understood that they were in need of salvation. Those who saw themselves as above that, failed to see that they were actually the truly needy.
In business, we would occasionally engage in team building exercises. The purpose of these exercises was to teach us that our goal should be to find a way that the entire team wins, not just the individual.
We had some great experiences and the message was accepted, until we got back to work and the environment hadn't changed.
There can't be two sets of rules. All need to adopt the plan to exist for others or it doesn't work. Someone will always be in a position to take advantage of the imbalance.
I think that is the message Jesus wants us to get. But despite what we hear, what do we think he is saying?
Too often we come away with the idea that we are better than they are. The problem is both sides of the coin feel that way.