Arulvakku

17.02.2020 — Pharisees’ mission test

Week 6 of Ordinary Time, Monday – 17th February — Gospel: Mark 8,11-13

Pharisees’ mission test

A kingdom open to the Gentiles was totally unacceptable to the Jews. Therefore the Pharisees demand a sign to authenticate Jesus’ mission. Their unwillingness to believe in spite of so many signs already given is a replay of the Israelites’ rebellion in the desert (Num 14,11; 14,22; Deut 29,1-3). The ancient Israelites had ‘quarreled’ and ‘tested’ the Lord by disbelieving him (Ex 17,2.7). Similarly, for the Pharisees Jesus’ abundant miracles, revealing God’s love for humanity, are not enough. They are looking for some kind of cosmic phenomenon that would serve as infallible proof of his claims. But to make this demand is to presume they can impose their own criteria on how God should act. To insist on irrefutable evidence is really a demand for control. Jesus’ opponents are motivated not by a sincere desire for truth but by a refusal to relate to God on God’s own terms. Even more, by seeking to ‘test’ Jesus they play the role of Satan (Mk 1,13). They are tempting Jesus to turn aside from his true messianic mission and instead win their esteem through a dazzling display of power.