"My dear brothers and sisters, today we reflect on three words: Perception , Prophecy , and Purpose . First, Perception . In our First ...
"My dear brothers and sisters, today we reflect on three words: Perception, Prophecy, and Purpose.
First, Perception. In our First Reading, we meet Balaam, a sorcerer who was hired to curse Israel but ends up blessing them instead. Why? Because his eyes were opened. He calls himself 'the man whose eye is true.' Sometimes, we are like the chief priests in the Gospel—blinded by our pride or fear of losing status. We question God's authority because we lack the spiritual perception to see that He is working right in front of us. Advent is a time to clean the lens of our hearts so we can perceive God’s hand in our daily struggles.
Second, Prophecy. Balaam prophecies that 'a star shall advance from Jacob.' This is a direct arrow pointing to Jesus. The chief priests in the Gospel, however, missed the prophecy standing before them. They were so obsessed with 'who gave you this authority' that they missed the Authority Himself. We often look for loud signs or grand miracles, but the prophecy of Christmas is often fulfilled in the quiet, small moments—a star, a baby, a simple act of kindness.
Finally, Purpose. God used Balaam, a flawed outsider, for a divine purpose. Even if you feel unworthy or 'outside' the circle of the holy, God has a purpose for you. Jesus’ authority doesn’t come from human approval; it comes from the Father. When we align our lives with His will, our purpose becomes clear: to be signposts pointing to the Star of Jacob.
Today, let us ask for the grace of clear perception, to see the prophecy of God's love in our lives, and to walk firmly in our purpose."
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