Reflection for MONDAY, 3rd Week of Advent.
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar
Gospel Verses
Matthew 21:23-27
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “ Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Meditation on the readings
God speaks to us in many ways but it is certainly not in a way that another person speaks to us.
At least, for most of us, God does not speak to us in that kind of way.
But somehow we also know that when God “speaks” to us, we will also know that it is the “voice” of God.
Because it is a voice that is not for our ears.
Rather it is a voice that goes deep into our hearts and we cannot ignore that voice.
For the prophet Balaam in the 1st reading, the voice of God was loud enough for him to declaim his curses on Israel and change them into blessings.
For the chief priests and elders in the gospel, the voice of God as spoken by Jesus left them confused and unable to answer the question from Jesus.
As we begin the third week of Advent, let us be aware of the voice of God that is speaking to our hearts.
Let us be silent, so that we can listen and we will know what God wants of us and how to accomplish His will for us.
GOD BLESS YOU
Good morning. Have a nice day.