Dealing with Others in Love

Have you ever been in a situation where someone tried to make you look really bad? It's not always easy to come up with a quick comeback that makes that person look bad instead, but we sure wish we could. We might even keep awake replaying the conversation and wishing we could have said this or that.

This weekend's Gospel reading tells the account of some of Jesus' enemies asking Him a question about His authority and what gives Him the right to do what He is doing. Jesus, in turn, asks them their opinion of John the Baptist and if his ministry came from heaven or simply from humans. They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then He said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Matthew 21:25b–27)

One can imagine Jesus walking away with a smug look on His face for having put His enemies in their place because we would probably do that. But Jesus isn't like that. Instead, He continues the conversation and tells a story about two brothers who are asked by their Dad to do something for him. One refuses, but later does it. The other says he'll do it but then never does. The point? It's better to change and follow the Lord's will rather than say, you'll follow Him but never do. The question for the hearer? Do I wish to change and follow Jesus?

Jesus uses His followers to demonstrate what lives changed by His Spirit look like -- lives that follow Jesus' example of dealing with others in love. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to work in you so your goal is not to make others look bad when they try to do that to you, but rather to encourage them to look to Jesus and know the joy of His life-changing love.