1ST READING
Balaam of Beor’s prophecy mentions a star arising from Jacob that will rule the people of Israel. Some of the Fathers of the Church have interpreted this as the star that led the Wise Men to Jesus in His nativity. But the star here refers to the person who is arising from Jacob. This could be a reference to Jesus. Nevertheless, a redemptive figure was expected to rise from the House of Jacob in the future.
Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17
2 When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true, 4 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: 5 How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! 6 They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the Lord. 7 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. 15 Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true, 16 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. 17 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.
P S A L M
Psalm 25:4-5, 6- 7, 8-9
R: Teach me your ways, O Lord.
4 Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. (R) 6 Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your kindness are from of old. 7 In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. (R) 8 Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. (R)
GOSPEL
We ascribe authority to those who earn it. The days of respecting people who claim to have authority are gone. The Church today has to move on to a more evangelical footing. It has to both proclaim and live the truth. This is the only way that people will listen to what the Church says on issues at hand. Only participative voices will gain the authority to be heard.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Show us, Lord, your love and grant us your salvation.
Matthew 21:23-27
23 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?” 24 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. 25 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?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27 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.”
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