Daily Readings - Mon Dec 16 2024
Numbers
2When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him3and he uttered his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,4the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:5"How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!6"Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.7Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. "Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.15Then he uttered his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,16the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:17"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.
Matthew
23Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"24Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.25John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?"26They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet."27So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing 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.