By Whose Authority?

Third Week of Advent – Monday

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a / Psalms 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 / Matthew 21:23-27

By Whose Authority? 

While I suspect the reading from Numbers is included in the Lectionary for Advent because of its reference to the king rising higher, his royalty being exalted and the star advancing from Jacob and the staff rising from Israel, I see a connection between Jesus’ authority being questioned in the gospel and the introduction to each of Balaam’s prophecies.

Balaam speaks as one “whose eye is true… who hears what God hears and knows what the Most High knows… who sees what the Almighty sees… with eyes unveiled.” In other words, Balaam has an intimate knowledge of God’s designs for Israel’s future. Balaam thus has a claim to authority based on his prophetic experience of God and his role to speak to the people on God’s behalf. 

When the chief priests and elders of the people ask Jesus about the source of his authority they are doing so as those who hold positions of authority, as religious and political leaders. But who is Jesus to teach and to cleanse the temple? Jesus’ authority rests on his relationship to his heavenly Father. He speaks as one who not only knows the designs of the Father intimately, but who is himself the plan of God. Whereas things have been revealed to Balaam, Jesus himself is the revelation God is showing the people. It’s not that Jesus brings a message from God; he is the message. What greater authority can there be?

• People in authority and leadership have the responsibility to help people conserve the truth as it is handed down, and integrate new insights as appropriate. This is a difficult task at times. Take time to think about who has helped you to understand Jesus and our traditions about him, and pray for those people.