Friday 15 November 2013

Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent

"Jangan cari pasal," is a Bahasa Malaysia phrase which is translated as "Don't look for trouble." In today's Gospel, we see the chief priests and the elders of the people trying to "cari pasal" with Jesus, hoping to find some excuse to trap Him. They challenged Him by asking: "What authority have you for acting like this? And who gave you this authority?" They knew who Jesus was but refused to admit and acknowledge Him. When Jesus questioned them back, they themselves fell into the very trap which they had tried to set on Jesus.

In our lives, we too may be guilty of trying to "cari pasal" with others, especially when we think we are smarter, better qualified, or better off than they are. We think we can put other people down or belittle them and get away with it. But, as Jesus has shown us, sometimes we may just end up eating humble pie or we may end up making a fool of ourselves. Are we allowing our ego to swell and take control of our lives? Or are we willing to walk humbly in God's presence?

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