EN 
ES Jesus went to the temple, and while he was teaching there, the leading priests and older leaders of the people came to him. They said, “What authority do you have to do these things? Who
gave you this authority?” Jesus answered, “I also will ask you a question. If you answer me I will tell you what authority I have to do these things. Tell me, when John baptized people,
did that come from God or just other people?” They argued about Jesus’ question saying, “If we answer, ‘John’s baptism was from God,’ Jesus will say, Then why don’t you believe him?’
But if we say, ‘It was from the people,’ we are afraid of what the crowd will do because they all believe that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said
to them, “Then I won’t tell you what authority I have to do these things.”
Life is not clear-cut, and neither are the answers we seek in prayer. As a teacher, I see over and over again the benefits of finding your own answers rather than having answers
given to you. In this story, the priests and elders actually find the answer to their question by trying to respond to the question posed by Jesus. Often it is in the questions of life that
we are pushed to find truth and direction.
LORD, GRANT ME THE PATIENCE AND OPENNESS TO PURSUE THE TRUTH RATHER THAN SPEND MY TIME LOOKING FOR JUSTIFICATION OF MY OWN IDEAS. AMEN.
– Shared by Jake Roehl