Today’s first reading helps us to better understand these words of Jesus: “With God all things are possible.” This story of Balaam is very interesting because it teaches that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.
Cultivating the Right Disposition of Heart
Balaam, a pagan soothsayer, who was sent by Balak the King of Moab to curse the Israelites, blessed them three times. The Spirit of God took control of him and he caught a glimpse of the Messiah from afar: “I see him – he said – but not now; I contemplate him, but not up close.” He was able to have a glimpse of Jacob’s star because he cultivated the right interior dispositions of the heart, dispositions that today are required of anyone who wishes to contemplate Christ who comes to us like a baby.
Balaam presents himself as the man with a penetrating eye. He was, therefore, one who did not stop at the surface of things, at appearances; rather he peered deeply. Antoine de St. Exupéry said that “it is with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eyes.”
Balaam did not allow himself to be distracted by gossip and frivolous thoughts and actions. He tuned his thoughts to the wisdom of the Lord. God removed a veil from his eyes thus making him capable of seeing the reality. Sometimes, a thick curtain made up of pride, selfish passions and interests, and prejudices does not allow us to see people and events as God would expect of us. Only when we allow God to remove this veil will we become capable of recognizing Christ, the only star to whom it is worth entrusting our lives.
The Pedagogy of Christ
In the Gospel, we see that the chief priests and the elders missed a great opportunity: experiencing Christ as the Truth that saves. The procedure that Jesus adopts with them in their quest for explanations is an example of wise catechetical pedagogy.
There religious leaders were not prepared to accept the truth that Jesus proposes. They are conditioned by the religious culture which they have assimilated since childhood and which they consider as indisputable. It is practically impossible for them to free themselves from this mentality.
If Jesus had immediately declared in a resolute way that his authority is not power, but service to the poor, and that the greatest must make himself a servant of others, probably he would have left them confused and stunned. He prefers to proceed quietly and gently, seeking the best way to help them overcome their difficulty.
Many times, in moral or theological conversations, we might have had the unpleasant experience of not being able to assert the reason for our faith. Sometimes, we might feel some irritation in the face of what seems to us to be the stubbornness of an opponent in our faith dialogue. We assume we cannot convince anyone.
Jesus’ attitude helps us to identify the error we commit. We do not always respect the stages that each person must pass through to encounter Christ. Maybe we overwhelm them with dogmatic statements that perhaps took us years to understand.
Let us always keep in mind that whoever wants to have a life-changing experience with Jesus must accept His invitation to conversion. Whoever does not have a heart that is open to the Truth of the Gospel, lacks the appropriate disposition to understand Christ. In the spiritual life of every Christian, conversion of heart is the necessary premise for understanding the Gospel. So, let us remain open to God’s nudges, the signs of His presence in our lives and in the world! Amen.
Fruitful Advent to all!
Father Alex, thanks for this reflection, I needed to hear this today. Conversations of faith can be challenging, and you remind us that a person must go through different stages before being able to receive the Gospel. Appreciate how you unpacked the Gospel reading to illustrate this. Also liked your quote from Saint Exupery! Thank you and God bless.