Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17; Psalm 25; Matthew 21:23-27
In the first reading of today we have an account of the vision and prophecy of Balaam concerning the future glory of the Israelites.
Balak, the Moabite king hired Balaam to curse the chosen people, instead of cursing them, Balaam was made to see God’s wonderful plans for them and he pronounced blessings on them not minding that this will infuriate the king.
Balaam was caught in between saying what the king wanted and what God has shown him, he feared God more and he said the truth as shown to him by God.
The question is who do I fear more? God or people?
When we fear God more, we won’t be afraid of the truth, we won’t be crippled by fear of people. Fear of God liberates whereas fear of people enslaves.
In the gospel of today, we have an example of how fear can cripple and enslave us. The priests and the elders of the people could not answer a simple question because they were afraid of the truth, they were afraid of the people. They feared the people than they feared God.
Let us pray today that the Holy Spirit may instill in us a holy fear of God and deliver us from the fear of the truth, fear of people, fear of the future, fear of ourselves.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on December 14, 2021.