Questions

Gospel: Mark 12: 35-37

In today's Gospel portion Jesus gets the opportunity to ask a question of the religious authorities regarding the central belief about the Messiah in the understanding of his day.  The question stumps the scribes and other religious leaders.  In our own day we may not find this issue particularly important or central to faith at all, but this short scene of the Gospel highlights an important element of faith life that is not only overlooked but very often discouraged and suppressed.  

Throughout the Gospels we find Jesus questioning religious leaders and the larger tradition regarding the law and authentic faith practice.  He sets about the task of challenging hypocrisy not to dismantle religion altogether but to find a path to a genuine life of faith.  The questions Jesus poses are to purify our faith.  His questions encourage us to ask similar questions and to challenge hypocrisy within our own religious traditions and faith life.  

Needless to say, the religious authorities of Jesus' time did not appreciate the questions and challenges, just as in our own time and in every age religious leaders do not appreciate questions, calling out hypocrisy, and challenges to their authority.  But a healthy faith must be allowed to question in a healthy way, to pursue truth and an authentic spiritual life.  Suppressing and discouraging the questions only leads to loss of faith and interest in religion.  Creating a culture of healthy conversation and questioning in pursuit of truth and goodness is the way of the Lord Jesus.