The pagan prophet has been able to see Christ a long way.

Yet the chief priests and the teachers of the Law can't recognize,

and fear is blinding them.

This is why they ask about Jesus' authority.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a

He looked up and saw

Israel camping, tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him and he uttered his song:

"Word of Balaam, son of Beor, the seer, the one who hears the words of God,

and beholds the vision of the Almighty, in ecstasy, with eyes unveiled.

How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your encampments, Israel! Like valleys stretching far, like gardens beside a stream,

like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. His buckets are overflowing and his seeds are always watered.

 

His king becomes stronger than Agag, and his kingdom grows.

Then Balaam pronounced his oracle: "Word of Balaam, son of Beor, the seer, the one who hears the words of God,

who has knowledge from the Most High, and sees the vision of the Almighty, in ecstasy, with eyes unveiled.

I see a figure, but not really. I behold him but not near. A star shall come forth from Jacob, he rises with a staff in his hand;

he shatters the forehead of Moab and tears down all the sons of Seth.

 

Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 & 7bc, 8-9 

 Teach me your ways, O Lord.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 21:23-27

Jesus had entered the temple and was teaching when the chief priests,

the teachers of the law and the Jewish authorities came to him, and asked,

"What authority have you to act like this? Who gave you authority to do all this?"

Jesus answered them, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me,

 

then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things."

Where did John's baptism come from? From heaven or from people?"

They discussed this among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven, he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'

And if we say, 'The baptism of John was merely something human, we've got to beware of the people, for all consider John to be a prophet."

So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

 "Fear is blinding them."

We have a stark contrast in today's readings. Centuries earlier, Balaam,

the pagan prophet and diviner, has been able to see Christ a long way off in the mists of time.

A pagan has been able to recognize him from afar, and yet the chief priests and the teachers of the Law

can't recognize that they are in the presence of their Lord and Savior even though they are standing right next to him.

This is why they ask about Jesus' authority, since they fail to understand who he is. They are not seeing things with "eyes unveiled."

Their evasive answer to Christ's question shows that they are looking at things from an earthly perspective.

 

Their answer is based not on a capacity to recognize the action of God. Rather, it's based upon their fear of the people's reaction.

Therefore, they are blind to the things of God, and fear is blinding them.

Can I recognize God's action in my life or are there obstacles to that discernment?

Do I reflect on things from the perspective of trusting in God's providence,

or do I measure things according to other people's opinions, fearful of what they might say?