Monday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 187
Lectionary: 187
When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe,
the spirit of God came upon him,
and he gave voice to his oracle:
The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of a man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;
your encampments, O Israel!
They are like gardens beside a stream,
like the cedars planted by the LORD.
His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,
he shall have the sea within reach;
His king shall rise higher,
and his royalty shall be exalted.
Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle:
The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.
I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel.
the spirit of God came upon him,
and he gave voice to his oracle:
The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of a man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;
your encampments, O Israel!
They are like gardens beside a stream,
like the cedars planted by the LORD.
His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,
he shall have the sea within reach;
His king shall rise higher,
and his royalty shall be exalted.
Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle:
The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.
I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 25:4-5AB, 6 AND 7BC,
8-9
R.(4) Teach
me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
AlleluiaPS 85:8
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Show us, LORD, your love,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, LORD, your love,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 21:23-27
When Jesus had come into the temple area,
the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him
as he was teaching and said,
"By what authority are you doing these things?
And who gave you this authority?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.
Where was John's baptism from?
Was it of heavenly or of human origin?"
They discussed this among themselves and said,
"If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us,
'Then why did you not believe him?'
But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd,
for they all regard John as a prophet."
So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know."
He himself said to them,
"Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things."
the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him
as he was teaching and said,
"By what authority are you doing these things?
And who gave you this authority?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.
Where was John's baptism from?
Was it of heavenly or of human origin?"
They discussed this among themselves and said,
"If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us,
'Then why did you not believe him?'
But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd,
for they all regard John as a prophet."
So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know."
He himself said to them,
"Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things."
Meditation:
"All hold that John was a prophet"
: Are you willing to
take a stand for the truth, even when it might cost you personally because of
opposition or disapproval from others? When we fear the disapproval or
rejection of our friends we are tempted to be evasive and to bluff our way to
avoid confrontation or trouble. Jesus told his disciples that the truth
would make them free - free to think and act according to what they
know is right, honest, and good, rather than yield to deception, lies, and evil
(John 8:32).
Yielding
to the Spirit of truth rather than falsehood
When the Israelites began to enter the promised land, after their wilderness sojourn of forty years, they met stiff resistance and opposition from the people around them. Balak, one of the local rulers in Canaan, employed the services of Balaam, a prophet of Baal, to put a curse upon the Israelites. Balak wanted to scare the Israelites away through fear and ill omen. Balaam, however, prophesied blessing and protection to the Israelites rather than cursing and destruction. He yielded to the Spirit of truth rather than to the spirit of falsehood. He spoke the word of God contrary to the words which King Balak wanted him to speak. Balaam even prophesied that a star would one day announce the coming of the Messiah King from the house of Jacob. This king would destroy all the enemies of God's people and establish a kingdom of peace (Numbers 24:17).
When the Israelites began to enter the promised land, after their wilderness sojourn of forty years, they met stiff resistance and opposition from the people around them. Balak, one of the local rulers in Canaan, employed the services of Balaam, a prophet of Baal, to put a curse upon the Israelites. Balak wanted to scare the Israelites away through fear and ill omen. Balaam, however, prophesied blessing and protection to the Israelites rather than cursing and destruction. He yielded to the Spirit of truth rather than to the spirit of falsehood. He spoke the word of God contrary to the words which King Balak wanted him to speak. Balaam even prophesied that a star would one day announce the coming of the Messiah King from the house of Jacob. This king would destroy all the enemies of God's people and establish a kingdom of peace (Numbers 24:17).
When
the prophet John the Baptist began to preach a message of repentance in
preparation for the coming of the Messiah, the religious leaders and rulers in
Palestine resisted his word and persecuted him as well. Jesus met resistance,
opposition, and fierce hostility from the religious rulers as well. Why did the
religious leaders oppose Jesus and reject his claim to divine authority? Their
view of religion did not match with God's word because their hearts were set on
personal gain rather than truth and submission to God's plan and design for
their lives.
They
openly questioned Jesus to discredit his claim to be the Messiah. If Jesus says
his authority is divine they will charge him with blasphemy. If he has done
this on his own authority they might well arrest him as a mad zealot before he
could do more damage. Jesus, seeing through their trap, poses a question to
them and makes their answer a condition for his answer. Did they accept the
work of John the Baptist as divine or human? If they accepted John's work as
divine, they would be compelled to accept Jesus as the Messiah. They dodged the
question because they were unwilling to face the truth. They did not accept the
Baptist and they would not accept Jesus as their Messiah.
There
can be no compromise with Jesus' authority - he is Truth incarnate
The coming of God's kingdom or reign on the earth inevitably leads to conflict - a conflict of allegiance to God's will or my will, God's justice or the world's way of playing fair, God's standard of absolute moral truth or truth relative to what I want to believe is good and useful for the time being. How do you respond to Jesus' claim to be not only the Messiah, but the source of everlasting life and truth as well? Do you submit to his word and stake your life on the coming of his kingdom? Jesus promises that those who seek to live according to God's truth will find true joy, freedom, and happiness both now and forever.
The coming of God's kingdom or reign on the earth inevitably leads to conflict - a conflict of allegiance to God's will or my will, God's justice or the world's way of playing fair, God's standard of absolute moral truth or truth relative to what I want to believe is good and useful for the time being. How do you respond to Jesus' claim to be not only the Messiah, but the source of everlasting life and truth as well? Do you submit to his word and stake your life on the coming of his kingdom? Jesus promises that those who seek to live according to God's truth will find true joy, freedom, and happiness both now and forever.
"Lord
Jesus Christ, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let your light shine in
my heart and in my mind that I may grow in understanding the truth of your word
and find joy and freedom in living according to it."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: 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)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, MATTHEW 21:23-27
Advent Weekday
(Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a; Psalm 25)
Advent Weekday
(Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a; Psalm 25)
KEY VERSE: "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things" (v. 27).
TO KNOW: When Jesus entered the temple precincts, he saw merchants who were changing unacceptable coinage into the correct currency to pay the temple tax of one half-shekel, and for purchasing animals for sacrifice. Jesus was filled with righteous anger and he cleansed the temple of its merchants and traders (Zec 14:21). The religious leaders were outraged and they demanded to know on whose authority he acted. Knowing that his opponents were accusing him of blasphemy, Jesus countered by asking where John got his authority to baptize. Was it of divine or human origin? This posed a dilemma for the religious leaders. If they said John's work was merely human, the people would be disturbed as they considered John to be a prophet. If they said John's work was by divine authority, then why had they opposed him, and why did they now oppose Jesus? Because they refused to answer, they abdicated their position as teachers. Thus Jesus revealed himself as the true teacher and interpreter of God's law.
TO LOVE: Do I avoid speaking the truth on controversial issues for fear of rejection?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to cleanse my inner temple of anything that is not of you.
Las Posadas - December 16 - 24
Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration with origins in Spain, beginning December 16th and ending December 24th in the evening. In Mexico, and parts of the Southwest U.S., the Bible story of Joseph and Mary's long-ago search for shelter in anticipation of the birth of Jesus comes to life. The neighborhood processions stop at predetermined homes along the route, where participants request posada (Spanish word for lodging) through song - only to be turned away at all but the final site. Between each stop, the pilgrims (some costumed to represent Joseph and Mary) sing carols and pray the rosary. When they are finally given posada, they celebrate by breaking candy-filled pinatas and eating delicacies, such as tamales and pan dulce (sweet bread). Despite its cultural Mexican roots, Las Posadas has transcended cultural lines among Latinos and other nationalities.
Simbang Gabi - December 16- 24
The “Simbang Gabi” (Mass at Dawn) is a Filipino tradition where the faithful attend dawn Masses on the nine consecutive days leading to Christmas. In the Philippines, the Masses began as early-morning liturgies to accommodate the working hours of farmers and fishermen. Now in urban cities Simbang Gabi is held in the evenings for the convenience of working people. Filipino families enact Panuluyan, a form of the Mexican Posada, in anticipation of the coming birth of Jesus Christ. The oldest Philippine symbol is the belen (nativity set. The parol (lantern) represents the star of Bethlehem, which symbolically guides the Messiah to the house and announces that here is a family that has accepted the Messiah. The novena ends on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with a midnight mass called Misa De Aguinaldo, "the night of light and joy."
Monday 16 December 2019
Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17. Psalm 24(25):4-6, 7a-9. Matthew 21:23-27.
Teach me your ways, O Lord – Psalm 24(25):4-6, 7a-9
‘Distress on earth and in heavens, Son of Man coming in power and glory.’
Teach me your ways, O Lord – Psalm 24(25):4-6, 7a-9
‘Distress on earth and in heavens, Son of Man coming in power and glory.’
Lord Jesus, when I read of wars starting, refugees fleeing,
nations starving, icecaps melting and crops failing, I become anxious and
depressed. I shrink from Gospel passages that remind me of these things. When
today’s Gospel speaks of the Son of Man coming in majesty I think of stern
judgment. But then I remember that you are the Son of God who loves me enough
to have died for me and who invites me to befriend and follow you. I recall
that you have joined us and are with us in all the murderousness of our lives
and the seasons of our world, and that betrayal and catastrophe never have the
last word. ’Lord Jesus, I thank you for making and choosing me and giving me
hope for the world’s future.’
Blessed Honoratus Kozminski
Saint of the Day for December 16
(October 16, 1829 – December 16, 1916)
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| Virgin and Child with Female Saints | Gérard David | Image designed by Mark Sullivan | Franciscan Media |
Blessed Honoratus Kozminski’s Story
Wenceslaus Kozminski was born in Biala Podlaska in 1829. By the
age of 11 he had lost his faith. By the age of 16 his father had died. He
studied architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Suspected of
participating in a rebellious conspiracy against the Czarists in Poland, he was
imprisoned from April 1846 until March of 1847. His life then took a turn for
the better, and in 1848 he received the Capuchin habit and a new name,
Honoratus. He was ordained in 1855 and dedicated his energies to the ministry
where he was involved, among other things, with the Secular Franciscan Order.
A 1864 revolt against Czar Alexander III failed, which led to
the suppression of all religious orders in Poland. The Capuchins were expelled
from Warsaw and moved to Zakroczym. There Honoratus founded 26 religious
congregations. These men and women took vows but did not wear a religious habit
and did not live in community. In many regards, they lived as members of
today’s secular institutes do. Seventeen of these groups still exist as
religious congregations.
Father Honoratus’ writings include many volumes of sermons,
letters, and works on ascetical theology, works on Marian devotion, historical
and pastoral writings, as well as many writings for the religious congregations
which he founded.
When various bishops sought to reorganize the communities under
their authority in 1906, Honoratus defended them and their independence. In
1908, he was relieved of his leadership role. Nevertheless he encouraged the
members of these communities to be obedient to the Church.
Father Honoratus died on December 16, 1916, and was beatified in
1988.
Reflection
Father Honoratus realized that the religious communities that he
founded were not truly his. When ordered by Church officials to relinquish
control, he instructed the communities to be obedient to the Church. He could
have become bitter or combative, but instead he accepted his fate with
religious submission, and realized that the gifts of the Religious were to be
gifts to the larger community. He learned to let go.
Lectio Divina: Matthew 21:23-27
Lectio Divina
Monday, December 16, 2019
3rd Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
in a world of injustice, war and exploitation,
in which more and more people
have the means to live
but not many reasons to live for,
You promise us a star to follow,
Jesus, Your Son.
God, keep in us the hope alive
that He will come today
and that, if we are willing
to take the demands of the Gospel seriously,
we can become indeed a new people
completely renewed in Christ,
our Savior for ever and ever.
in a world of injustice, war and exploitation,
in which more and more people
have the means to live
but not many reasons to live for,
You promise us a star to follow,
Jesus, Your Son.
God, keep in us the hope alive
that He will come today
and that, if we are willing
to take the demands of the Gospel seriously,
we can become indeed a new people
completely renewed in Christ,
our Savior for ever and ever.
2) Gospel reading - Matthew 21:23-27
Jesus had gone into the Temple and was teaching, when the chief
priests and the elders of the people came to Him and said, 'What authority have
you for acting like this? And who gave you this authority?'
In reply Jesus said to them, 'And I will ask you a question, just one; if you tell Me the answer to it, then I will tell you My authority for acting like this.
John's baptism: what was its origin, heavenly or human?' And they argued this way among themselves, 'If we say heavenly, He will retort to us, "Then why did you refuse to believe him?"; but if we say human, we have the people to fear, for they all hold that John was a prophet.'
So their reply to Jesus was, 'We do not know.' And He retorted to them, 'Nor will I tell you My authority for acting like this.'
In reply Jesus said to them, 'And I will ask you a question, just one; if you tell Me the answer to it, then I will tell you My authority for acting like this.
John's baptism: what was its origin, heavenly or human?' And they argued this way among themselves, 'If we say heavenly, He will retort to us, "Then why did you refuse to believe him?"; but if we say human, we have the people to fear, for they all hold that John was a prophet.'
So their reply to Jesus was, 'We do not know.' And He retorted to them, 'Nor will I tell you My authority for acting like this.'
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today describes the conflict that Jesus had with
the religious authority of the time, after that He drove out the merchants from
the Temple. The priests and the elders of the people wanted to know with which
authority Jesus was doing those things: to go into the Temple and drive out the
merchants (cf. Mt 21:12-13). The authority considered itself the master of all
and thought that nobody could do anything without their permission. This is why
they persecuted Jesus and tried to kill Him. Something similar was also
happening in the Christian communities of the years seventy-eighty, the time in
which the Gospel of Jesus was written. Those who resisted the authority of the
Empire were persecuted. There were others, so as not to be persecuted, tried to
reconcile Jesus’ project, with the project of the Roman Empire (cf. Gal 6:12).
The description of the conflict of Jesus with the authority of His time was a
help for the Christians, so that they could continue fearless in the persecutions
and would not allow themselves to be manipulated by the ideology of the Empire.
Today, also, some who exercise power, whether in society or in the Church and
the family, want to control everything as if they were the masters of all the
aspects of the life of the people. They even persecuted those who thought in a
different way. Keeping in mind these thoughts and problems, let us read and
meditate on today’s Gospel.
• Matthew 21:23: The question of the religious authority to Jesus. “What authority have You for acting like this? And who gave You this authority?” Jesus answered, “And I will ask you a question, just one, if you tell Me the answer to it, then I will tell you My authority for acting like this. John’s baptism, what was its origin, heavenly or human? Jesus went back to the Temple. When He taught, the chief priests and the elders of the people went close to Him and asked, “With what authority do You do these things? Who has given You this authority?” Jesus again goes around the great square of the Temple. Then appear some priests and elders to question Him. After everything that Jesus had done the day before, they want to know with which authority He does these things. They did not ask what was the real reason which impelled Jesus to drive out the merchants from the Temple (cf. Mt 21:12-13). They only ask with which authority He does those things. They think that they have the right to control everything. They do not want to lose control of things.
• Matthew 21:24-25ª: The question of Jesus to the authority. Jesus does not refuse answering, but He shows His independence and liberty and says, “I also, will ask you a question, if you tell Me the answer to it, then I will tell you My authority for acting like this. John’s baptism, what was its origin, heavenly or human?” This was an intelligent question, simple as a dove and cunning as a serpent! (cf. Mt 10:16). The question shows the lack of honesty of His enemies. For Jesus, the baptism of John came from heaven, came from God. He himself had been baptized by John (Mt 3:13-17). The men who had power, on the contrary, had plotted or planned the death of John (Mt 14:3-12). And in this way they showed that they did not accept the message of John and that they considered his baptism like something from men and not from God.
• Matthew 21:25b-26: Reasoning of the authority. The priests and the elders were aware of the importance or significance of the question and reasoned in the following way: "If we say heavenly, He will say to us, ‘Then why did you refuse to believe him?’ If we answer human, then we have the people to fear, for they all hold that John was a prophet”. And therefore, so as not to expose themselves they answered: “We do not know!” This is an opportunist response, a pretence and interested one. Their only interest was not to lose their power over the people. Within themselves they had already decided everything: Jesus should be condemned to death (Mt 12:14).
• Matthew 21:27: Final response of Jesus. And Jesus says to them, “Nor will I tell you My authority for acting like this”. Their total lack of honesty makes them unworthy to receive an answer from Jesus.
• Matthew 21:23: The question of the religious authority to Jesus. “What authority have You for acting like this? And who gave You this authority?” Jesus answered, “And I will ask you a question, just one, if you tell Me the answer to it, then I will tell you My authority for acting like this. John’s baptism, what was its origin, heavenly or human? Jesus went back to the Temple. When He taught, the chief priests and the elders of the people went close to Him and asked, “With what authority do You do these things? Who has given You this authority?” Jesus again goes around the great square of the Temple. Then appear some priests and elders to question Him. After everything that Jesus had done the day before, they want to know with which authority He does these things. They did not ask what was the real reason which impelled Jesus to drive out the merchants from the Temple (cf. Mt 21:12-13). They only ask with which authority He does those things. They think that they have the right to control everything. They do not want to lose control of things.
• Matthew 21:24-25ª: The question of Jesus to the authority. Jesus does not refuse answering, but He shows His independence and liberty and says, “I also, will ask you a question, if you tell Me the answer to it, then I will tell you My authority for acting like this. John’s baptism, what was its origin, heavenly or human?” This was an intelligent question, simple as a dove and cunning as a serpent! (cf. Mt 10:16). The question shows the lack of honesty of His enemies. For Jesus, the baptism of John came from heaven, came from God. He himself had been baptized by John (Mt 3:13-17). The men who had power, on the contrary, had plotted or planned the death of John (Mt 14:3-12). And in this way they showed that they did not accept the message of John and that they considered his baptism like something from men and not from God.
• Matthew 21:25b-26: Reasoning of the authority. The priests and the elders were aware of the importance or significance of the question and reasoned in the following way: "If we say heavenly, He will say to us, ‘Then why did you refuse to believe him?’ If we answer human, then we have the people to fear, for they all hold that John was a prophet”. And therefore, so as not to expose themselves they answered: “We do not know!” This is an opportunist response, a pretence and interested one. Their only interest was not to lose their power over the people. Within themselves they had already decided everything: Jesus should be condemned to death (Mt 12:14).
• Matthew 21:27: Final response of Jesus. And Jesus says to them, “Nor will I tell you My authority for acting like this”. Their total lack of honesty makes them unworthy to receive an answer from Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Have you ever felt that you are being controlled without any
right, by the authority of the house, in work, in the Church? What was your
reaction?
• We all have some authority. Even in a conversation between two individuals, each one has certain power, a certain authority. How do I use the power, how do I exercise authority: to serve and to liberate or to dominate and control?
• We all have some authority. Even in a conversation between two individuals, each one has certain power, a certain authority. How do I use the power, how do I exercise authority: to serve and to liberate or to dominate and control?
5) Concluding prayer
Direct me in your ways, Yahweh,
and teach me Your paths.
Encourage me to walk in Your truth
and teach me since You are the God who saves me. (Ps 25:4-5)
and teach me Your paths.
Encourage me to walk in Your truth
and teach me since You are the God who saves me. (Ps 25:4-5)
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