PEACE COMES FROM SUBMISSION TO GOD’S AUTHORITY

20151214 PEACE COMES FROM SUBMISSION TO GOD’S AUTHORITY

Readings at Mass

First reading

Numbers 24:2-7,15-17 ©

Raising his eyes Balaam saw Israel, encamped by tribes; the spirit of God came on him and he declaimed his poem. He said:

‘The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

the oracle of the man with far-seeing eyes,

the oracle of one who hears the word of God.

He sees what Shaddai makes him see,

receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.

How fair are your tents, O Jacob!

How fair your dwellings, Israel!

Like valleys that stretch afar,

like gardens by the banks of a river,

like aloes planted by the Lord,

like cedars beside the waters!

A hero arises from their stock,

he reigns over countless peoples.

His king is greater than Agag,

his majesty is exalted.’

Then Balaam declaimed his poem again. He said:

‘The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

the oracle of the man with far-seeing eyes,

the oracle of one who hears the word of God,

of one who knows the knowledge of the Most High.

He sees what Shaddai makes him see,

receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.

I see him – but not in the present,

I behold him – but not close at hand:

a star from Jacob takes the leadership,

a sceptre arises from Israel.’

Psalm

Psalm 24:4-6,7-9 ©

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, make me know your ways.

  Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

  for you are God my saviour.

Lord, make me know your ways.

In you I hope all day long

  because of your goodness, O Lord.

Remember your mercy, Lord,

  and the love you have shown from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth.

  In your love remember me.

Lord, make me know your ways.

The Lord is good and upright.

  He shows the path to those who stray,

He guides the humble in the right path,

  He teaches his way to the poor.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord will come, go out to meet him.

Great is his beginning and his reign will have no end.

Alleluia!

Or

Ps84:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 21:23-27 ©

Jesus had gone into the Temple and was teaching, when the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him and said, ‘What authority have you for acting like this? And who gave you this authority?’ ‘And I’ replied Jesus ‘will ask you a question, only one; if you tell me the answer to it, I will then tell you my authority for acting like this. John’s baptism: where did it come from: heaven or man?’ And they argued it out this way among themselves, ‘If we say from heaven, he will retort, “Then why did you refuse to believe him?”; but if we say from man, we have the people to fear, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’ So their reply to Jesus was, ‘We do not know.’ And he retorted, ‘Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.’

PEACE COMES FROM SUBMISSION TO GOD’S AUTHORITY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: NUM 24:2-7, 15-17; MT 21:23-27

The first reading from the Book of Number is one of the most interesting stories in the bible.  It reminds us that we can only act and speak in the authority of God and not on our own authority.  Peace comes only when we act according to what the Lord asks of us.  Those who defy God’s authority will only bring disaster on themselves.  This is perhaps the reason why many people are not happy in life.  They want to manage their lives without God.  They think they have all the power to determine their happiness in life.  Such people only seek to do things their way and often against the will of God.  The greater tragedy is that those in authority abuse their authority by exercising it against the will of God and the good of the people.   We see this so often in the Church, at the workplace and even in government when officials use their power for evil and for enriching themselves.

Indeed, we often compromise the truth because of money, power and status even though we know what God wants us to do or to say.  This was what happened to the religious leaders in today’s gospel.  They were not ready to confront the hard truth about themselves.  In their minds, they know that John the Baptist was a true prophet because many people came to listen to him even though it was risky because King Herod found John the Baptist a threat to his power.  Yet, the fact is, these people were not afraid of King Herod because they knew that the truth lies in John the Baptist.  They were willing to risk their lives to seek the truth.  In the case of the religious leaders, they were not ready to give up their status, their office, their position, political and religious authority by giving recognition to John the Baptist as a true prophet of God.  Otherwise, they would have to change.  So they sought to argue themselves out of the situation by not acknowledging God’s authority in John or in Jesus.   They were not sincere and they sought ways to reject them.

This is the irony, or rather, the hypocrisy of life.  Very often, the real people who need conversion are the leaders.  In most instances, leaders present themselves as if they have all the answers to life’s problems.  Most of all, they act as if they are so perfect, holy and righteous.  They like to tell others how to live their lives, what they must do, how they must live but they are the last to do what they preach and teach.   Indeed, they would remind us to be forgiving, be humble, be generous, be obedient, be understanding, take the initiative to reconcile, be prayerful, read the Word of God daily.   But they do not pray, nor read the Word of God.  They are disobedient to God’s will and authority, wanting things their way, are unforgiving, vindictive, materialistic, greedy and calculative.  Indeed, Jesus denounced such leaders and said to His disciples, “Do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.” (Mt 23:3f)

The people who take them seriously are always the simple and common people.  They might not know the hypocrisy of their leaders and that they live a double-life, one in church and the other in the office; and so it is easier for them to take their words seriously.   Because they do, they grow in holiness themselves and find true happiness, just like the people who responded to John the Baptist.  The common people and sinners are easier to convert than the so-called holy, righteous and pious people.  They suffer from the sin of presumption and the sin of pride.  They are so blinded by their own sins that they could not look at themselves.  They are so used to judging others, telling people what to do, being respected and honored that they think they are almighty and omniscient.  To such people who do not follow God’s authority, Jesus would also say, “Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.” 

Today, we are called to imitate the example of the prophet Balaam.  He was asked by the King of Moab who feared the rising power of the Israelites to curse Israel.  So Balak, the King of Moab, summoned Balaam and said, “Come now, curse this people for me, since they are stronger than I; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land; for I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed.”   (Num 22:6)  But God told Balaam not to accede to his request.  At first he was obedient to the Word of the Lord.  When the King was told that Balaam refused to come back with his emissaries, he sent more officials to beg him to come and promised him honour and wealth.  But the prophet was insistent and told them, “Although Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God, to do less or more.  You remain here, as the others did, so that I may learn what more the Lord may say to me.”  (Num 22:18f)  Balaam was aware that in no way could he go against the will of the Lord.

Yet, it must be said that Balaam was not absolutely loyal to the Lord.  He was hesitating and in his heart, was hoping that God would change His mind, and hence the advice to the messengers to wait for the Lord for further instruction.  And thus, that night God tested him by asking him to go with the men.  But on the way, the Lord sent the angel to block his way.  As a consequence, his donkey fell on him.  When he beat the donkey, he was told off by the donkey instead, “Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day?  Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?”  And he said, “No.”  It was at this point that his eyes were open.   The Lord wanted to teach him a lesson that the donkey was more obedient to him than he was obedient to the Lord.  He was externally following the word of God but his heart was otherwise.  Upon realizing his lack of sincerity, he said, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me.  Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home.”  “The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, ‘Go with the men; but speak only what I tell you to speak.’  So Balaam went on with the officials of Balak.” (Num 22:34f)

It is within this context that having learnt the lesson of obedience and submission to God’s authority, and against the will of the King of Moab, the prophet Balaam blessed Israel instead of cursing Israel.  This time, without fear and self-interest, he did what the Lord asked him to do.  He would only speak what the Lord asked of him, not his own ideas or what he wanted.  In obedience to God, he blessed Israel and with utter honesty and truthfulness. He had to tell the King of Moab that Israel would eventually be the leader and hold the scepter.  When Balak questioned him for blessing his enemies, Balaam retorted, “Must I not take care to say what the Lord puts into my mouth?”  (Num 23:11)  After the second oracle blessing Israel, he said the same thing to Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘Whatever the Lord says, that is what I must do’?”  (Num 23:26)  The third time, Balaam said, “If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will; what the Lord says, that is what I will say.”  (Num 24:13)

What about us?  If we want to seek the Lord’s blessings, especially of peace, then are we ready to be honest with ourselves?  If we are not changing our lives; if we are not ready to accept criticism; if we are not ready to listen to authority; if we are not ready to give up our self-interests, our convenience, stability, security, then we will not listen to God.  But if we are ready, and are willing to submit, to speak and do God’s will at all costs, then we can be sure that the Lord will make use of us.  If God could use a donkey to change the mind of Balaam, what more can He do with us, if we are only as obedient as the donkey in submitting to God’s will.  Indeed, those of us who hold authority will destroy ourselves if we use authority only to satisfy our desires and protect our interests. Those who want to exercise authority rightfully and wisely must themselves be willing to submit to authority to those above them, especially to God who is the one who bestows authority on us.   When we obey sincerely, God will use us mightily for His greater glory.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore

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