First Reading: Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25
Gospel: Matthew 21:23-27
In today's gospel the religious leaders confront Jesus asking where His authority comes from. Jesus then decides that He will tell them if they can answer His question. Upon being asked, they tell Him that they do not know the answer, thereby showing that they cannot speak with authority. Since they were unwilling to share their authority with Jesus, neither was He willing to share His with them. Through all of the many confrontations that Jesus had with the religious leaders, He always had a way of reducing them to silence or ask them questions to which they did not understand or couldn't answer. When reading about situations like this, we might tend to be swelled with pride and say in our heads, "Wow Jesus! You sure got em good with that one!" While these situations certainly put the scribes and pharisees in their place, they are meant to show us that Jesus came with the authority of God.
The religious leaders of the time did not believe in who Jesus was, thereby they did not accept the authority that He had. We are very blessed to have this special insight into the gospels and to see it from an outsiders perspective. It is important for us to remember that Jesus was God in the flesh, and thereby came to teach, preach, heal, and save; all with God's authority! There is no greater power to be found anywhere, and we should be striving to grow in His love and mercy each day of our lives. Let us pray the words of the psalmists today, "Teach me your ways, O Lord." May the Holy Spirit grant us the fruits that He desires to bring into our lives each day, and may we grow stronger each day in faith, hope, and love.
Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. We praise you for the many gifts in our lives, and for all that we are capable of. Lord, we offer this day up for you, and for your glory. Lord, you are the source of all that is good and all that is right, help guide us as we continue on our journey of faith in you. We pray for all those who are are seeking you in their lives and all those looking for meaning and purpose, may they find it in you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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