HOMILY FOR THE 3RD MONDAY IN ADVENT — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: THE TRUE BOSS — AN ADVENT TALK
BY: Fr. Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
Num 24:2-7, 15-17; Psalm 24(25):4-6, 7-9; Matt 21:23-27
Introduction
Good morning, everyone. Today is Monday in the third week of Advent—a time when we are meant to feel great joy!
But today’s liturgical readings ask a hard question: Who is the real boss?
Part 1: The Star and the Foreigner
In the First Reading, we hear a strange story about a man named Balaam. He was a fortune-teller, not one of God’s people. A king paid him to say bad things about the Israelites.
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But God is the true boss! He made Balaam say good things instead. Balaam said a powerful prophecy:
“I see a Star coming from Jacob (Israel). A Scepter (a sign of a King) will rise up.”
This is a promise about Jesus! Even a person who was not a believer had to announce God’s plan. This shows us: God’s plan and God’s power are greater than anyone else’s.
Part 2: The Question for Jesus
Now we jump to the Gospel.
Jesus is teaching in the Temple. He is healing people and speaking with great power.
The religious leaders—the chief priests and elders—were upset. They went up to Jesus and asked a question:
“Who gave you the right to do these things? Who is your boss?”
They didn’t like that Jesus had so much power and that people listened to Him, not them.
Jesus didn’t answer right away. He asked them a question about John the Baptist: “Did John’s power come from God or from men?”
The leaders refused to answer. They thought, “If we say ‘from God,’ we look bad because we didn’t listen to John. If we say ‘from men,’ the people will be angry because they loved John.”
So they gave a weak, safe answer: “We don’t know.”
They were not really ignorant; they were afraid to tell the truth. They refused to accept God’s true authority because it would cost them their own power.
Part 3: What Does This Mean for Us?
This Advent, we must ask ourselves the same question: Who is the real boss in my life?
1. Do I Look for the Star? God’s authority sometimes shows up in strange places—in a tough decision, in the face of a poor person, or in a quiet moment when we feel we should pray. Do we try to see God’s plan, even when it is not what we expected?
2. Do I Say “I Don’t Know”? When God asks us to change, to forgive someone, or to be generous, do we hide behind excuses? Do we pretend we don’t know what the right thing is because we are afraid to lose our comfort or our way?
God’s authority is not about making rules; it is about love and service. Jesus came to serve, not to be served.
This week, let the joy of God’s coming fill your heart. Be brave enough to see the Star and honest enough to accept that Jesus is the true King and the true Boss.
Have a blessed Monday with a wonderful new week !