Word to the Wise
Monday, December 16, 2024 - 3rd Week of Advent - Mon
[Num 24:2-7, 15-17a and Matt 21:23-27]I see him, though not near: a star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel. [Numbers]
The prophetic voice in today's first scripture is that of Balaam, an unlikely prophet who was a reluctant part of a coalition against Israel. He is more traditionally remembered because his donkey turned out to be talkative!! Balaam had a series of visions, one of which is presented today, which has been interpreted by the Christian community as a Messianic foretelling.
The territory of the Holy Land was and continues to be a constant battlefield. Balaam's oracle was originally uttered on seeing the army of Israel encamped before a battle. Prayer for deliverance from struggle has ever been the situation for the Chosen People. In Jesus' time, the messianic hopes that had been built up through Moses and the prophets were directed in great part toward deliverance from the Roman occupation. In our time, "deliverance" may take many different forms - personal, local, regional, or international! Perhaps it would be a good Advent/Christmas/Epiphany spiritual exercise to ask ourselves which kind(s) of deliverance we want to pray for, which struggles we want to resolve! What hopes are we putting before that Child in the manger in the nativity scene? AMEN