＊＊＊ 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 25:4-5ab, 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 a question, only one. And if you give me an answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. When John began to baptize, was it a work of God, or was it merely something human?”

 They reasoned out among themselves, “If we reply that it was a work of God, he will say: Why, then, did you not believe him?   And if we say: The bap­tism of John was merely something human, beware of the people: since all hold John as a prophet.”   So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.”

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what right I do these things.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

There are different types of authority. It could be confirmed or taken away. It could be invented and therefore depends on some myth why he or she comes to possess such power and authority.

Or it could be by popular acclaim because the people believe it. It comes from the person’s inner resources. The chief priests, the teachers of the Law and the Jewish authorities have derived authority.

That is why they are always insecure with those who threaten their status. Jesus is a threat. That is why they train their guns towards Him. They demand that He disclose where He derives His authority.

It is equivalent to our modern practice of asking credentials to persons who claim to be an authority at certain fields of expertise. But Jesus does not make it easy for them.

He asks about John’s authority and they could not answer. For John legitimizes Jesus having declared Him as the lamb of God. And so they keep silent. They could not confess the truth because there is too much that they will lose if they do so.

 

St. Lucy, Virgin, Martyr

The Saints had to bear sufferings and. How did they overcome them? By the love of Christ.

Nourish this pure love by meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life.