Today we have an amazing reading from the ancient Book of Numbers: even in the days shortly after the time of Moses it was prophesied that "a star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel!" The promise of a leader clothed in light was made by God – and God is always faithful to his promises.
The way of light is the way of love; and the way of love is the way of salvation! The Messiah was to be born from the God of Love, to be God's love among us – to show us the way back home!
In the gospel passage we see that Jesus was to be a different kind of light – different from John the Baptist – who was not the light at all – but a precursor of the greatness of the true Messiah himself: Jesus, his cousin; Jesus the Christ! And Jesus was also to be no match for those who would spend the next three years trying to tick and trap him. 'If you can tell me where John's baptism came from, then I will tell you where I get the authority to do the things that I am doing."
The chief priests and elders could not answer the question without convicting themselves of ignorance and cowardice, so they did not answer! Neither did Jesus answer them about his authority – not that he couldn't – but they would not have understood, much less believed what he had to say anyway – so he remained silent!
Matters of faith – matters dealing with God – cannot be "proved" by a secular mind: they never could, they never will!
When God gifts us with faith, and we accept – then the light is switched on in our minds and we can see things clearly: today, we pray for an increase in faith for ourselves and for any and all who remain in varying degrees in the darkness of ignorance and cowardice!
Teach us your ways, O Lord, today!
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