＊＊＊ 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 Yahweh, 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 Sheth.

 

Ps  25  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：

“WHO GAVE YOU AUTHORITY TO DO AL LTHIS?”

When the typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) struck Tacloban, Leyte and its neighboring provinces, we were taken affront with innumerable questions. Some questions sometimes challenge authority.

In the midst of restlessness, we wrestled towards the authority of God, a God, who according to Pope Francis, “would not put us down” and who would allow us to experience His love in ways we would not understand. We journeyed on God’s will and accompanied people through their hunger and crisis.

The first reading refreshes us with the oracle of Balaam. The oracle speaks so well of God’s plan on the rise of David and on his beloved chosen people. It is through His authority that good things unfolded.

The Gospel brings us to look for God’s authority at all times. Jesus hid his answer not really because he was not capable of it but because of the trap which the Pharisees and Sadducees would have laid on him.

In discerning for authority, it would always be safe to take refuge in God’s loving authority.