The opposition to Jesus shown by the Pharisees and Herodians of to-day's Gospel can best be explained by a narrowing of their minds and a desire to safeguard their privileged positions. Jesus' open and positive attitude and his trust in his heavenly Father led him to a desire to serve the world and the people he met in daily life. He went out to people not only physically but also psychologically.

Jesus was able to discern the goodness that is in the world and was well aware of his Father's power to draw men and women to himself.

Some of the Jewish religious leaders of the time were locked into a world view which was narrow and exclusive. The way they had worked out for themselves, and especially for others, was a rigid, adherence to a set of laws. They believed that those laws came from God, yet they had a desire for security which was compounded with a suspicion of anyone who might challenge their privileged interpretation of God's law.

Jesus himself in his teaching and Peter's presentation of it in today's first reading suggest otherwise. In freedom, hope and confidence, despite the difficulties of life, we can be loving, cheerful and confident fellow workers of a loving and creative God.