Daily Readings - Mon Dec 16 2019
Numbers
2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,3and he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,4the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!6Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.7Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.15And he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,16the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
Matthew
23And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"24Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.25The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?" And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'26But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet."27So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the themes of authority, prophecy, and spiritual discernment. The first reading from Numbers presents Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, who, despite being commissioned to curse Israel, ends up blessing them under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. His prophecy speaks of a future leader, a star rising from Jacob, symbolizing the coming Messiah. This passage underscores God’s ability to speak through unexpected voices and His divine plan for His people.
In the Gospel, Matthew 21:23-27, Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders who question His authority. Jesus responds by challenging them about the origin of John the Baptist’s baptism, forcing them into a dilemma. Their inability to answer reflects their spiritual blindness and resistance to God’s truth. This exchange highlights the tension between those who recognize God’s authority and those who oppose it, even within religious circles.
These readings remind us to remain humble and open to God’s messengers, whether they come from expected or unexpected places. Balaam’s humility and willingness to obey God’s voice contrast sharply with the pride and close-mindedness of the religious leaders. As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, may we seek to recognize God’s authority in our lives and remain open to His workings, even when they challenge our preconceptions. Let us pray for the humility to accept God’s truth, wherever it may be found, and to follow His will with open hearts.