It is 14th December 2015. We celebrate the memorial of St. John of the Cross, the Priest and the Doctor. He is known as the ‘mystic of the mystics.’ The readings are from Num.24:2-7, 15-17a and the Gospel from Mt. 21:23-27. The first reading describes how the king of Moab urged Balaam to curse the people of Israel. On the contrary, guided by the Holy Spirit, he ended up blessing them and prophesied about the coming of Messiah. “I see him – but not in the present, I behold him – but not close at hand: a star from Jacob take the leadership, a scepter arises from Israel.” (Num.24:17). We must not fear a human agent when God’s Spirit is on our side. The Spirit of God will protect us and save us from all the curses people wish on us would turn into a blessing. The responsorial Psalm prays, “Lord, make know your ways.” (Ps.24:4). In the Gospel, the elders and the chief priests wanted to know where Jesus gets his authority from. People were looking for an outward sign of authority like education, position, title and influential connections. But the authority of Jesus comes from who He is. We too have the authority through the waters of Baptism. Standing for the Truth is in itself exercising the authority we already enjoy right with in. May the Lord bless us to know our power to be the person God wants us to be.