Readings: Numbers 24:20-7,15-17; Psalm 25; Matthew 21:23-27
In today’s Gospel, the authority of Jesus is questioned by the chief priests: “by what authority are you doing these things?” Let’s look at authority from another point of view. Today the 3rd Monday of Advent, we also celebrate St. John of the Cross, a priest- member of the Carmelite Order born in Spain in 1542. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Churc, author of spiritual writings. His best-known work is The Dark Night of the Soul. He teamed up with St. Teresa of Avila, during this time of the Counter-Reformation in Spain. He was imprisoned for it and while imprisoned in a very small cell, John began to write the “The Dark Night” which describes the stages of growth in spiritual maturity. His prayer was the source of becoming the author of deeply spiritual writings, his response to the voice of God.
The origin of the word “author,” comes from the Latin word “augere” which means to increase, originate, or promote. To author, then, is to go to the origins, the source. St. John of the Cross, through deep contemplation and prayer taps into the Origins of Life, God who is Love, who came to us as Jesus.
Jesus and all the saints must have easily prayed the Psalm for today: “Make me know your ways, O Lord, make known to me;Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation.”
In the first Reading from the Book of Numbers, we find the words of the prophet Balaam who gave voice to his oracle, the Spirit. “The oracle the words of God who sees the vision of the Almighty. Divine inspiration gave Balaam the authority, the power to proclaim God’s will and foretell, “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall come out of Israel.
This is Jesus who is the “Authority”, the origin of life and love with the Father. The leaders, like all of us, will eventually know that Jesus is the Author of Life. He is AUTHORITY. “In him, through him and with him we live and move and have our being.” His Spirit is alive and active within each one of us, empowering us to proclaim his presence, together becoming co-authors in the re-creation of our world. “A star shall come out of Jacob. May this Advent be a reminder that a star may be sleeping within us waiting to rise and shine.