Today's Gospel December 14, 2020 with the words of Pope Francis

READING OF THE DAY
From the book of Numbers
Nm 24,2-7. 15-17b

In those days, Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe.
Then the spirit of God was upon him. He delivered his poem and said:

"Oracle of Balaam, son of Beor,
and oracle of the man with the piercing eye;
oracle of one who hears the words of God,
of those who see the vision of the Almighty,
falls and the veil is removed from his eyes.
How beautiful are your curtains, Jacob,
your dwellings, Israel!
They extend like valleys,
like gardens along a river,
like aloe, which the Lord planted,
like cedars by the waters.
Waters will flow from its buckets
and his seed like abundant waters.
Its king will be greater than Agag
and his kingdom will be exalted. "

He delivered his poem and said:

"Oracle of Balaam, son of Beor,
oracle of the man with the piercing eye
oracle of one who hears the words of God
and knows the science of the Most High,
of those who see the vision of the Almighty,
falls and the veil is removed from his eyes.
I see it, but not now,
I contemplate it, but not closely:
a star rises from Jacob
and a scepter rises from Israel. "

GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 21,23-27

At that time, Jesus entered the temple and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him and said, “By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority? ».

Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I too will tell you with what authority I do this. Where did John's baptism come from? From heaven or from men? ».

They argued among themselves saying: "If we say: 'From heaven', he will answer us: 'Why then did you not believe him?' If we say: “From men”, we are afraid of the crowd, because everyone considers John a prophet ».

Answering Jesus they said: "We don't know." Then he also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
“Jesus served the people, he explained things so that the people understood well: he was at the service of the people. He had the attitude of a servant, and that gave him authority. Instead, these doctors of the law that people… yes, they listened, respected but didn't feel they had authority over them, these had a psychology of principles: 'We are the teachers, the principles, and we teach you. Not service: we command, you obey '. And Jesus never made himself pass as a prince: he was always the servant of all and this is what gave him authority ”. (Santa Marta 10 January 2017)