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reading of the Book of Numbers in those
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days balam looked up and saw Israel
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encamped by tribes the spirit of God
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Came Upon him and balam uttered his poem
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Oracle of balam son of beer Oracle of
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the man who has his eyes open Oracle of
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him who hears the words of God who sees
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what the mighty one makes him see who
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Falls and his eyes are opened how
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beautiful are your tents oh Jacob and
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your dwellings oh Israel they spread out
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like valleys like Gardens along a river
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like allows which the Lord has planted
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like Cedars By the Waters the water
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overflows from his water pots and his
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seed is richly watered his King is more
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powerful than AAG his kingdom is on the
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rise and balam continued pronouncing his
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poem Oracle of balam son of beer Oracle
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of the man who has his eyes open Oracle
1:07
of him who hears the words of God and
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knows the thoughts of the most high who
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sees what the mighty one does to him see
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that he falls and his eyes are opened I
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see him but not now and I Behold Him but
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not closely a star comes out of Jacob
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and a scepter Rises up from Israel word
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of the Lord thank God
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proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
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Christ according to St Matthew Glory To
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You Lord at that time Jesus returned to
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the temple as he was teaching the high
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priests and Elders of the people came to
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him and asked by what Authority do you
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do these things who gave you this
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authority Jesus answered them
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I also will ask you a question if you
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answer me I also will tell you by what
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Authority I do these things where did
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John's baptism come from from heaven or
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from men they reflected among themselves
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if we say from Heaven he will say to us
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why didn't you believe in him if we say
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of men we are afraid of the people
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because everyone considers John the
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Baptist to be a prophet they then
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answered Jesus we don't know to which
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Jesus also replied neither will I tell
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you by what Authority I do these things
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word of Salvation Glory To You
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Lord dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
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it is a great privilege to be here today
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to reflect together on the readings
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presented to us they invite us to a deep
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reflection on Divine Authority true
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wisdom and our willingness to follow
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God's will let's start our reflection
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with a simple but powerful image a path
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let's imagine that we are walking along
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a narrow and Rocky path with stones that
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challenge us and forks that confuse us
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in front of us we see a soft light which
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guides us and gives us Direction this
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light is the wisdom of God which guides
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us sustains us and calls us to trust in
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difficulties today the readings from
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numbers and Matthew tell us precisely
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about this light about the Divine
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Authority that guides our choices and
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leads us on the path of Truth in the
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first reading taken from The Book of
3:43
Numbers we find an intriguing passage
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balam a prophet who initially resisted
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the invitation of balak king of Moab to
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curse the people of Israel is touched by
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the spirit of God and begins to Proclaim
3:57
blessings instead of curses how
4:00
beautiful are your tents oh Jacob how
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pleasant are your dwellings oh Israel
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balam a man who until then was more
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concerned with the material rewards he
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would receive for cursing the Israelites
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now finds himself transformed by the
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presence of God he can no longer see the
4:18
people of Israel in a negative way but
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rather as a blessed people favored by
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God he exalts the homes of the people of
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Israel as something beautiful and Worthy
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of respect here there is something very
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important for us to reflect on balam was
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being led by something greater than
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himself something Beyond his own
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intentions and interests the word of God
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when true and pure has the power to
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transform even the most hardened Hearts
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making us see the world in a different
4:50
way more fair and more full of love
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balam in his prophetic speech sees the
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image of a glorious future for Israel he
4:59
he sees a star rising from Jacob a
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reference to a Messianic figure who
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would bring Liberation and peace this
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star is without a doubt an image of
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Christ himself the star that will later
5:12
be recognized by the Magi in the New
5:14
Testament the reference to this star
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invites us to reflect on the promise of
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Salvation that would be fulfilled in
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Christ and that continues to shine for
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us to this day now let's go to the
5:25
gospel of Matthew where Jesus presents
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us with a challenge a question that
5:30
reveals the true nature of authority
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Jesus is questioned by the chief priests
5:35
and Elders about the authority with
5:37
which he performs his actions and
5:39
teaches they want to know where Jesus
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power comes from but instead of giving a
5:44
direct answer Jesus asks them a question
5:48
where does John's baptism come from from
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heaven or from Men the religious leaders
5:54
response is full of hesitation because
5:56
they realize that if they say that
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John's baptism comes from heaven
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then Jesus will ask them why they did
6:02
not believe him but if they say that it
6:04
comes from men they fear the reaction of
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the people who consider John a prophet
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then in an act of lack of courage and
6:12
discernment they refused to respond and
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Jesus in turn does not immediately
6:18
reveal the origin of his authority but
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the real message here is clear Jesus
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Authority comes not from human power but
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from God he is not just a teacher or
6:29
leader who seeks approval from men but
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an Envoy of God himself whose authority
6:34
is based on Divine truth not human
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conventions and expectations the
6:39
authority of Jesus my brothers and
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sisters is an authority that challenges
6:44
our Notions and expectations it is not
6:47
an authority that seeks control Power or
6:50
manipulation but an authority that comes
6:53
from service humility and love Jesus
6:56
throughout his life demonstrated that
6:59
true true Authority lies in doing the
7:01
father's will and living in accordance
7:03
with the principles of the kingdom of
7:04
God he shows us that Divine Authority is
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above all an authority of sacrifice
7:11
unconditional love and forgiveness we as
7:14
Christians are called to live by this
7:17
same Authority we cannot seek authority
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to dominate or subjugate others but to
7:22
serve to help to lift up the fallen and
7:26
to love our brothers and sisters when we
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seek to live with the authority of
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Christ we are invited to reflect his
7:32
love and truth in our words and actions
7:35
in everything we do this Divine
7:37
Authority is also an invitation to
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obedience when Jesus responds to
7:43
religious leaders with a question he
7:45
challenges us to question our own
7:47
willingness to hear God's voice are we
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willing to accept God's authority over
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our lives are we ready to let him guide
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us in our paths even when it challenges
7:58
us and calls us out of our comfort zone
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to help us reflect on this Authority
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let's think of an analogy imagine a boat
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Navigator who knows the stars and sea
8:08
currents very well he can guide his ship
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even in storms because he knows where
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the light that guides him is that light
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for us is divine wisdom revealed in
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Christ and the scriptures when we accept
8:23
this light it guides us on our own path
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even when the storms of life seem to
8:30
now how can we live in accordance with
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this Divine Authority first we must be
8:35
willing to listen and obey the voice of
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God balam's example shows us how
8:41
obedience to God's word can transform us
8:43
and make us see the world in a new way
8:46
when we follow the path that God sets
8:48
before us even if it seems difficult or
8:51
challenging we find true peace and
8:53
blessing secondly we must live with
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humility as Jesus teaches us
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we should not seek authority to control
9:02
or dominate but to serve in our families
9:06
communities and work environments we are
9:08
called to act with the humility and Love
9:10
Of Christ always seeking the good of
9:12
others and not just our own interests
9:14
finally we must be witnesses to the
9:17
authority of Christ in our world as
9:20
balam prophesied a star would rise from
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Jacob and that star is the light that
9:25
illuminates Our Lives we are called to
9:28
reflect this light to the world to be
9:30
signs of Hope Justice and peace as we
9:34
conclude our reflection I invite each of
9:36
us to pause and reflect on how we are
9:38
living out the authority of Christ in
9:40
our lives are we willing to listen to
9:43
God's voice are we ready to live humbly
9:46
and serve others how can we be light in
9:49
the world reflecting God's wisdom and
9:51
love may the Holy Spirit help us to live
9:54
in accordance with Divine Authority and
9:56
to follow the way of Christ with courage
10:09
amen St Michael the Archangel defend Us
10:13
in battle be our protection against the
10:15
wickedness and snares of the devil may
10:18
God rebuke him we humbly pray and do
10:21
thou o Prince of the Heavenly Host by
10:24
the power of God cast into hell Satan
10:28
and all the evil spirits who prow
10:30
throughout the world seeking the ruin of
