34 / 85
Monday of the ThirdWeek of Advent
Numbers Chapter 24:2-7, 15-17A
Psalm 25:4-5AB, 6 & 7BC, 8-9
MT 21:23-27
Summary
Though initially called upon by the king of a rival kingdom to curse Israel,
Baalam, experiences a conversion of heart, and in this passage sees Israel not on-
ly as then blessed by God, but also as the place from which a future star and
staff would advance. The Psalmist prays to know God’s ways, seeing that humili-
ty opens him to God’s truth. In Matthew, Jesus deflects a challenge to his au-
thority made by the chief priests and elders.
Reflection
InAdvent, we are waiting in ritual for the birth of the Messiah; we are also wait-
ing for the Second Coming of Christ. In this passage
from Matthew, Jesus deflects the question of author-
ity, waiting to declare who he is in accordance with
the Father’s providential timing.
The chief priests and elders, religious authorities of
Judaism, ask him by what authority he cleansed the
temple and healed persons and did other things. To
borrow Jesus’ words from his counter-question to
them, if Jesus says his authority is “heavenly,” they
catch him in what they consider blasphemy, the pen-
alty for which is death. If he says merely “human,”
Jesus denies the truth that his authority is from his
heavenly Father. So, consistent with rabbinical prac-
tice, Jesus says he will tell them by what authority
he did these things if they will answer one question.
He asks them whether John the Baptist’s authority
was heavenly or hu-
man. From fear of
the crowd, which
saw John as a
prophet, they say,
“We do not know.”
Jesus does not an-