14/12/2020
Monday 14, December 2020
Third Week of Advent Year B
Memorial of St. John of the Cross
Num. 24:2-7,15-17; Mt.21:23-27
WHAT AUTHORITY HAVE YOU?
Good morning my dearly beloved child of God. Hope you’re fine in the Lord? God is always there for us. We are God’s own. Jesus is our best teacher in everything. He cares for us more than we care for ourselves. So, another new day with new opportunities has come, let us rejoice and be glad and not worry too much.
We know what a dilemma is. It is a perplexing situation in which a choice has to be made between alternatives that are equally undesirable.
Going by that definition. it may be said that it is a choice of the best among the worst. In today's gospel, that was the situation that the the chief priests and the elders found themselves in.
They challenged Jesus' authority, but, in turn, found themselves being challenged and in a dilemma as to how to answer that question of Jesus.
Thus, the gospel puts it: 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?’
Jesus question sets them into confusion 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.’
So they ended up choosing the worst of the worst alternatives with that reply: We do not know. Or in simple terms : No comment. What about us? In the face of such dilemma, are you like the Chiéf priests and the elders? Or are you like Christ?
In today’s first reading, we hear of another dilemma. The pagan prophet Balaam was tasked to curse Israel, but when the Spirit of God came upon him, he faced a dilemma, but made the choice to revoke his curse and instead bless Israel.
Whenever we face a dilemma, we think of the worst case scenarios and try to choose the one that will result in the least problems and difficulties.
But when we put the dilemma into the hands of God and ask the Spirit to guide us, then we will see the best case scenarios because we know that in each alternative there is growth and enlightenment.
So whenever we face a dilemma, let us not curse the alternatives that we have to choose. Rather, let us ask the Lord for His blessings and also ask the Spirit to guide us in making a choice.
Every dilemma, remember, is an opportunity to experience the blessing and the guidance of God. So let us understand this, and in our word and actions, live it out and God will be our security and protector in all things and indeed his blessings will overshadow us now and always in Jesus name amen.
Be blessed and loved always dearest child of God as we struggle together by His help. Just be happy and don't worry dear child of God. Let Christ worry for you. Praying for you always.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT JUST AN ORDINARY PERSON BUT A CHILD OF GOD! HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND LOVELY NEW WEEK MY DEAR CHILD..
SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS, PRAY FOR US
OUR LADY OF NIGERIA, PRAY FOR US.
JESUS THE SAVIOUR HAVE MERCY ON US AND GRANT US SUCCESS
KEEP SAFE, STAY SAFE BUT ALWAYS TRUST IN GOD
Fr. Chukwunonyelum N