"By what authority...?"

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 21:23-27), the religious authorities of the People of God question the authority of Christ and are agnostic about the authority of the most famous prophet of the time.

In today’s first reading (Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a), a key prophecy about Christ is uttered by a man who is not even a member of the People of God.

Lawful authority must always be given due respect and official authority within the People of God must always be respected (see Matthew 23:2-3).

But in this world of many voices and many temptations, it is always critical for us to pray for the gift of discernment and to discern carefully what we hear and what we feel.