The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek the inspiration of the Spirit to see beyond the limitations on our faith and action that may be favoured by the principalities and powers of the world.
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The reading from the Book of Numbers presents Balaam’s Fourth Oracle.
* [24:17] A star…a scepter: some early Christian writers, as well as rabbinic interpreters, understood this prophecy in messianic terms. So, for example, Rabbi Akiba designates Bar Kosiba the messiah in the early second century A.D. by calling him Bar Kokhba, i.e., son of the star, alluding to this passage. Although this text is not referred to anywhere in the New Testament, in a Christian messianic interpretation the star would refer to Jesus, as also the scepter from Israel; cf. Is 11:1. But it is doubtful whether this passage is to be connected with the “star of the Magi” in Mt 2:1–12. (Numbers, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 25 is a Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance.
* [Psalm 25] A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides. (Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Authority of Jesus is Questioned.
* [21:23–27] Cf. Mk 11:27–33. This is the first of five controversies between Jesus and the religious authorities of Judaism in Mt 21:23–22:46, presented in the form of questions and answers.
* [21:23] These things: probably his entry into the city, his cleansing of the temple, and his healings there.
* [21:24] To reply by counterquestion was common in rabbinical debate.
* [21:26] We fear…as a prophet: cf. Mt 14:5.
* [21:27] Since through embarrassment on the one hand and fear on the other the religious authorities claim ignorance of the origin of John’s baptism, they show themselves incapable of speaking with authority; hence Jesus refuses to discuss with them the grounds of his authority. (Matthew, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rashmi Fernando, S.J. comments that we too often resist acknowledging truth because it challenges our preconceived notions or compels us to change. This indecision exposes a key Advent theme: the readiness of our hearts to recognize and embrace God, at least for His divine work at work, in us, in the people we encounter, and in the creation.
As we anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth, we are invited to reflect on the difference between knowing Christ by His doings versus knowing Him for who He is, and what that reveals about our own faith journey. In this season of preparation, Jesus asks each of us: “Who am I to you—today, this Christmas, and in your life at this precise moment?” In answering this question, let us keep in mind what Saint Ignatius has to say in this regard: it is by knowing Christ more intimately that we can love Him more ardently; and it is by loving Him more ardently that we can follow Him more closely. (Fernando, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “John the Baptist's authority came from heaven,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"Prior to this, the Pharisees had seen many things more worthy to be called great miracles, but now they were deeply troubled and asked Jesus to identify the authority by which he performed these works. The great mystery of the future is included in the consequences of present deeds. They felt the urge for special questioning, then, because the prefiguration of every danger was made known in this event. The Lord replied that he would tell them by what authority he did these works if only they would also reply to his question about whether they considered John the Baptist to have come from heaven or from man. They hesitated while pondering the dangers of responding. If they confessed John to have come from heaven, they would be convicted by that very confession for not believing in the authority of a heavenly witness. They were afraid to say that he was merely from man, however, because of the large crowd of people who believed John to be a prophet. So they answered that they did not know (they did in fact know him to be from heaven) because they feared that they might be convinced by the truth of their own confession. But they told the truth about themselves, even though it was their intention to deceive; it was only through their infidelity that they did not know John the Baptist to be from heaven. And they could not have known that John the Baptist was from man, because he was not." (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 21.10) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 21:23-27 comments that we believe that Jesus’ authority comes from his Father. But how does he exercise this authority? He doesn’t lord it over us; neither does he want to control us. Instead, Jesus uses his authority to set us free from sin and to reveal the tender love and mercy of his Father. The more we submit to his authority, the more we grow in holiness and the more we are able to reflect his love and mercy to those around us.
Today, think about an area in your life that you are struggling to surrender to Jesus. Recall how he exercises his authority, and then do your best to hand it over to him. He loves you and wants good things for you. So put your trust in him, and know that he will always lead you along the path he has marked out for you!
“Jesus, help me to yield more and more of my life to you.” (Meditation on Matthew 21:23-27, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the text in Numbers that centres around the desire of Balak to curse the Israelites and the revelation to Balaam that they are blessed by the Lord. Jesus displays the cleverness that was so valued and necessary in a society in a violent world with much autocratic power. Friar Jude reminds us of the option we should exercise to offer a prayer in encounters with impatience and rudeness in this holiday season.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Anglican hermit Maggie Ross who describes an experience of God’s indwelling presence. Inspired by a Gospel passage about being “born again” (John 3:1–21), Ross recognizes how she is born anew through her “yes” to God’s invitation.
To bear the Word, to enter the kingdom, we must indeed be born from the Spirit, not for the second time in the womb of our natural mothers, but continually in the love of the Mother of God that brought forth her son, and like her, in the same movement, to bear Christ as well. Mary, then, is my mother in this second birth, just as she is for Nicodemus.
That my heart is still not big enough to encompass this paradox I readily admit. I still feel unease about Mary sometimes…. But if nothing else, Mary has taught me to say yes: as Abraham and Sarah said yes, as Elizabeth and Zechariah said yes, as Jesus said yes to the cup that did not pass from him.
And each time that cup is passed to me at the Eucharist, I look into its depths beyond the dark wine shimmering gold and, trembling, I say, “yes.” (Rohr, n.d.)
When we ponder what it is from which we need deliverance, we can certainly admit to personal and social ills that inhibit our acceptance of the call of Jesus to fullness of life.
References
Fernando, R. (2024, December 16). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/121624.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?23
Meditation on Matthew 21:23-27. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/12/16/1152494/
Numbers, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/24?2
Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Born Anew. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/born-anew/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). All Hold That John Was a Prophet. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=dec16
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