The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to implore our senses, reasoning and patience as we open our being to transformation by our association with Christ.
The Reading from the Book of Numbers describes the change of heart of Balaam about cursing the Israelites.
* [24:4] In rapture: lit., “falling,” therefore possibly “in a trance.” However, this interpretation is uncertain.
* [24:7] Agag: during Saul’s reign, king of Amalek (1 Sm 15:8), fierce enemy of Israel during the wilderness period; see v. 20 (Ex 17:8–16).
* [24:10] Balak clapped his hands: a gesture suggesting contempt or derision, apparently made in anger (cf. Jb 27:23; Lam 2:15).
* [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 lament with ardent pleas and confidence in God.
* [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 by religious authorities.
* [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.)
Michele Bogard recalls a friend who was discerning entering the Society of Jesus. He was the first person to introduce her to the prayer Patient Trust by Teilhard de Chardin. Today, it is her prayer for us all. For the students waiting to know what their next steps may be. For those who battle illness and are awaiting a cure. For those battling persecution and are waiting to be seen and their dignity upheld. For all of us waiting on Christ’s arrival. Let us all be reminded that we are Christ for one another in this time of waiting for His return.
Patient Trust
Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete. (Bogard, n.d.)
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 Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 asks “What do you think God, the Almighty, sees when he looks at you?”
What’s more, God doesn’t focus only on your thoughts and actions, however good they may or may not be. He sees the unique, “very good” way you reflect his own goodness (Genesis 1:31). He sees the image of his beloved Son, Jesus. He sees you, the “wonderfully made” person he created out of love, redeemed from sin, and filled with his Spirit (Psalm 139:14).
Keep this vision close to your heart today. You are more than the good or bad things you say or do. You are a chosen and beloved child of God.
“Lord, thank you for seeing into my heart—and for loving what you see! Help me to live out your vision for my life today.” (“Meditation on Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17,” 2025)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that, in Numbers, Balaam was hired by Balak to curse the Israelites but he turns it to a blessing based on what he sees. Balaam, a pagan, cannot curse Israel but turns his curse to Balak. The Pharisees question by what authority Jesus preaches. Jesus responds by cleverness by questioning their understanding of the status of John the Baptist. In Jesus' time, high esteem was placed on cleverness to get out of a sticky situation. Friar Jude notes that Jesus is shown to be filled with God’s wisdom by His response.
Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on our deep conviction to be the Church by serving all in the world, furthering St. Paul’s legacy of ordinary service, a willingness to share the gospel, and a dedication to following God’s will. Today’s readings are Acts 28, Philippians 1-2, and Proverbs 29:25-27.
Brian McLaren reflects on the spontaneous joy and awe of true worship and asks “Could it be that the conceptualized and formalized worship of the “developed world” is actually designed to inhibit and control rather than foment joy?”…
The scandalous truth, known by mystics throughout history and affirmed in the pages of our sacred texts, is that when we connect with God, it is as if we are plugging our souls into a pure current of high-voltage joy. The joy that surprised me under the stars [in my mystical experience] in my teens was exactly what the ancient psalmist knew (Psalm 16:11), that God is a joyful being and to enter or awaken to God’s presence is to enjoy a bracing jolt of invigorating delight…. Yes, there is indeed a place for quiet reverence, the dignity of robes, and the noble tranquility of marble columns and pipe organs. But … God is joyful, and God’s joy is contagious. When we tap into the joy of the Lord, when we step into the pure joy that burns like a billion galaxies in the heart of God, we’ll soon find ourselves shouting, dancing, singing, leaping, clapping, swaying, laughing, and otherwise jubilating and celebrating. [2] (McLaren, n.d.)
We ponder the evidence of our senses that detect the joy and inclusion of Jesus Way, even as we implore the Spirit to assist in applying wisdom and patience to our mission.
References
Bogard, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-15-2025
Matthew, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?23
McLaren, B. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/joyful-worship/
Meditation on Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17. (2025, December 15). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/15/1446052/
Numbers, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/24?2
Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4
Schwager, D. (n.d.). All Hold That John Was a Prophet. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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