Daily Readings - Mon Dec 16 2024
Numbers
2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.7He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:16He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Matthew
23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?24And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.27And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of authority, truth, and integrity. The first reading from Numbers presents us with the figure of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet who, despite being commissioned to curse Israel, finds himself compelled by God to bless them instead. His vision of Israel’s beauty and future glory underscores God’s sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of His people. The Gospel reading shifts our focus to Jesus in the temple, where religious leaders challenge His authority. Jesus, in turn, questions them about the origin of John the Baptist’s authority, leaving them trapped by their own hypocrisy and fear of the crowd. His response highlights the tension between human authority and divine truth.
The connection between these readings lies in their exploration of authority and its sources. Balaam, though an outsider, becomes a vessel for God’s truth, while Jesus confronts the religious leaders’ attempt to assert their own authority over Him. Both stories remind us that true authority comes not from human power or consensus but from God. Balaam’s prophecy and Jesus’ teaching reveal that those who speak on behalf of God must do so with integrity, even when it challenges the status quo.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine where we ground our own authority and truth. Are we like Balaam, willing to let God’s Spirit guide us even when it goes against our intentions? Or are we like the religious leaders, more concerned with maintaining power and approval? Let us seek to align our wills with God’s, trusting in His plan and speaking the truth with courage and humility. May we, like Balaam, gaze upon the beauty of God’s people and, like Jesus, stand firm in our commitment to His truth, even when the world questions our authority.