Questions can be weapons
Monday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel: Mt 21:23-27
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121525.cfm
In today’s gospel, the chief priests are not asking Jesus a question because they care to know, but because they wanted to accuse him further. If he said his authority was from God, they could accuse him of blasphemy or use the law against him. If he said it was from human origin, they could claim that they were above that because they represent God’s law and are the religious authority. It was not an honest question. Jesus returns their question with the same question but about John the Baptist.They ponder how they should answer given how Jesus or the people will respond. Given the implications of either answer, they felt like they couldn’t just answer with what they believed. Their ponderance reveals the malicious intent of their original question. Jesus didn’t need to call it out. He just let them stew in it and let them know that since they couldn’t answer his question, he wouldn’t answer theirs.
Questions can be used as a tool in argument. Questions can be used as a means to resolve an argument or be used as means to gain an upper hand in an argument. These questions vary in intent. One is a means of asking a direct question like a chess move. You’ve already prepped yourself for a follow-up to get the person in check to get more dominance in the conversation. You anticipate the person’s next move or you ask a question where there’s no right answer. These questions are a means to maintain or gain control. Another type of question is from a humble position. You ask open-ended questions without making presumptions. You ask questions to try to understand. You truly listen to their response and don’t limit your interpretation of their words to already formed conclusions. By asking open-ended questions and not assuming the answer, you put yourself in a position of vulnerability. It gives the other person more dominance or at least equality in the conversation.
As we journey through Advent, observe the questions you and others ask each other. Are you asking questions to further understand? Or are you asking questions to move yourself into a dominant position? As frustrations come about this season, it’s each to fall into the latter. Try to catch yourself doing this and find a means of changing your approach. We all will benefit if we seek to understand more than be understood.
