THE WORD IN ADVENT - December 16
Monday, 3rd week in Advent: Numbers 24:2-7,15-17; Matthew 21: 23-27
Starting today, we begin the next phase of our preparation to receive the Lord. There are certain key attitudes with which we shall be in a better position to receive the Reign. The challenges are multifarious and a person of the Reign cannot go past them without true and absolute choices.
In today's Word, Balaam asserts, affirms and reaffirms on whose authority he speaks; the Jewish leaders and priests ask Jesus on whose authority Jesus does all that he does. Both Balaam and Jesus, we see in the Word today, were fearless.
Balaam was faced with a furious whole race and Jesus was faced with a powerful top brass of the society. They make it clear to themselves and to those around, that they rely not on their power, or eloquence, or skill, or talent but they rely on the Lord! Today when the very institutions like the governments and public services, which have to safeguard the common good, start working against equality, justice and human dignity, what do you do! Stand up, speak up and usher in the Reign! No authority can stop us! And we need to please no authority, except One.
An authority that will never be questioned...is the Lord who reigns over all and submitting myself to that Reign and inspiring others to submit to the Reign is the way to establish the Reign of God. It is not Reign that expands by conquest and battles, but by submission and surrender, by a personal choice to absolutely rely on the real King!