A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings
What is the strangest thing you have ever seen? How about a talking donkey? In this passage we come across the story of Balaam’s talking donkey. Weary from their wandering in the wilderness, the people of Israel set up camp in the plains of Moab. This did not sit well with the Moabites. Balak, the leader of the Moabites, called Balaam to travel with them to the Israelite encampment so that they could curse Israel. Understanding this, God clearly told Balaam not to join the officials of Moab. Yet, Balaam went anyway. This made God very angry, and God placed an angel in the middle of the road to block Balaam. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; so the donkey turned off the road, and went into the field. Because Balaam could not see the angel and did not grasp what the donkey was doing, Balaam struck the donkey, and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it scraped against the wall, and scraped Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck it again. Then the angel of the Lord went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!" But the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?" And he said, "No." Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down, falling on his face. The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let it live." Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home." The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but speak only what I tell you to speak." Balaam then said to Balak, "I have come to you now, but do I have power to say just anything? The word God puts in my mouth, that is what I must say." This story of Balaam’s talking donkey teaches us the importance of faithfulness to God and obedience to God’s word. Jesus came so that we might have life but we struck him and crucified him. We must understand that the wages of our sin is death but thanks be to God that through Jesus Christ we have been saved. Our every thought, word and deed but be guided not by our fleshly desires but by the spirit of God. As emotional beings, we often become angry when others are brutally honest with us about our mistakes, and we are offended/insulted when others attempt to prevent us from yielding to sin. However, if we know what is best for us, then we will welcome those who hold us accountable for our choices, and we will appreciate those who love us enough to stop us from self-sabotage. Each of us needs a talking donkey in our life.
What is the purpose behind laws and commandments? Do they exist in order to limit us, punish us, and kill those who break them? The Bible teaches us that laws and commandments exist in order to promote life, ensure liberty and enable the pursuit of happiness. Through Christ we have died to the legalistic approach to religion, and we have been raised by God through his grace so that we might worship him in spirit and in truth and bear fruit for the building up of his church. This does not mean that the law is sinful. By no means! If it was not for the law, then we would not know what sin is. However, laws and commandments must never promote death and destruction. Rather, they must breathe new life into those who come under its authority. Functioning under the grace of God, the law is holy, and commandments are just and good. We must build a better society within the laws and commandments that God has given us.
Has anyone ever questioned your authority? When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" How would we have responded to such a line of questioning? Would you have responded in anger and yelled - “It’s none of your business!” Would you have retreated, your confidence deflated, and become very apologetic - “I am so sorry; I was wrong; I will never do it again.” How did Jesus respond in this situation? Jesus wisely pointed out the ignorance of those who were questioning him, and then he made it clear to them that there was no need for him to inform them by what authority he was doing things. When our authority comes from God, we need not fear the attacks of man. The world can question us all it wants but we must stand strong in our thoughts, words and deeds. We must realize that those who parade around as holy people are often the very ones who refuse to change their minds and transform their hearts. Jesus pointed out to the chief prirests and the elders of the people - "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” If we truly believe that our authority comes from God, then we push forward regardless of the obstacles before us. When God is with us, no one can be against us. No weapon fashioned against us will stand.
To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Thomas+
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