Reflecting on today's Gospel reading, we can be sure of one thing: the religious 'authorities' e.g. those responsible for the Temple did not have genuine authority from God; nor will they find it because they were not sincerely seeking the truth.

If the Pharisees had been willing to listen, they would have recognized Jesus' authority as the religious people did: "His teaching made a deep impression on them because like the Scribes, he taught them with authority." (Mk.1:22)

On the contrary, it took Balaam to prophesy the coming of the One as represented by the 'Star of Jacob' who would lead the people out of darkness into light - Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

How little faith we can have like the Pharisees to recognize and accept the authority of Jesus as from God. Often we allow other worldly concerns cloud our minds that we fail to see the presence of God in our own realities.

Let this challenge us as people of God as we await the celebration of the coming of the Messiah at Christmas.