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Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 11:

Jesus and the Twelve arrive in Jerusalem (vs. 1-10) and Jesus first goes to the Temple to look around, before spending the night outside of the city, in Bethany (vs. 11). The next day, Jesus heads back to the Temple to teach and remove those who were putting up barriers (i.e. overpriced animals for sacrifice) that prevented people from afar, from “all the nations” (meaning non-Jews) fully participating in worshipping God (vs. 18, Is 56:7). Jesus returns to the Temple on another day (vs. 19, 27) and the Temple leaders ask him what authority he has to teach and act in these ways (vs. 28-33). In summary, God’s covenant people, Israel (often symbolized by a fig tree, Jer 8:13, 24:1-8, 29:17, Hos 9:10, Joel 1:7) are not in the season of producing the full fruit of their role in God’s plan of salvation, a plan that includes all people, including Gentiles. But, God is faithful and never abandons his people--the “roots” remain and Jesus gives hope (vs. 20-22).

Jesus’ Entry into Jerusalem  
 
1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 2 and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat; untie it and bring it. 3 If any one says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” 4 And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door out in the open street; and they untied it. 5 And those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said; and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Je­sus, and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it. 8 And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!”
11 And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at ev­erything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the dis­tance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disci­ples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 And they came to Jerusa­lem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money­changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons; 16 and he would not al­low anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he taught, and said to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Jesus’ Authority Is Questioned

27 And they came again to Je­rusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will tell you by what author­ity I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me.” 31 And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From men’?”—they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was a real prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

Have faith in God and see mountains move, forgiveness happen, and prayers answered. (v. 22-25) Lord, how are you inviting me to live a deeper faith and trust in my prayers being answered?...Show me, Lord.

Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. cbsmich.org/join

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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