--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 12/14/09 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 12/14/09 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/12/14/daily-readings-reflection-for-121409#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 12/14/09 Dec 14, 2009 9:27:39 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Reflection on Today’s Daily Readings by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM [Today’s Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab/) Scripture: Lectionary # 188. Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17. Psalm 25:4-5,6-7,8-9. Matthew 21:23-27: Jesus guides us on our Advent journey when we are humble and open to him; he guides us to justice (see Psalm Resp. verse 25:9). Through the teachings of Jesus we learn how to find the right paths in life. Matthew loves to present Jesus as a superb teacher and in our selection we see how he thwarts those teachers who are not authentic or sincere. Jesus overcomes their intellectual plots against him by means of a wisdom that flows from his inner self--the same word that is used for "authority." He is challenged by those who are supposed to be teachers of the law and of the true religion. But they are more interested in their own ideas than in the truth. So they come to Jesus and ask him by what authority and power he teaches. As a wise person and a teacher he responds with a question of his own in order to prove they are sinister in their opinionated and forced question. He, in turn, asks them a question about the one who has already given his life for the messiah, namely, John the Baptist. Was his baptism by water unto forgiveness human or divine? This puts them in a quandry and they realize that no matter what way they answer it they are losers. Jesus thus does not answer their question about his authority and power in teaching. We all know that those teachers who are authentic have a joy and a way of teaching that makes the student feel quite at ease. They inspire learning and desire to be like one who enjoys this profession. Jesus authority (exousia) flows from his inner self and is integrated and truthful. Matthew in using the word for "authority" shows us that Jesus is speaking from his very being and it is framed by his own question to them. His like John the Baptist's is both human and divine. Those who asked their presumptious question are silenced and Jesus does not attempt to answer their query. This seems to follow upon the little parable that we heard the other day about the children playing in the market place and inviting other children to join them; they do not enter the dance nor the dirge they are playing. So, too, the insincere questioners are like these little urchins who do not enter the game others are enjoying. We all know good teachers when we see them and we do not question their authority for we realize it flows from the very being. Advent calls us to be attentive to the wise and wholesome teachers who appear in the pages of the Bible. Jesus is among them and is the teacher par excellence in the New Testament. Amen. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-121409%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-121409%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-121409%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Readings%20Reflection%20for%2012%2F14%2F09) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-121409%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-121409%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Readings Reflection for 11/12.10 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/11/12/daily-readings-reflection-for-1112-10) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 1/13/10 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/01/13/daily-readings-reflection-for-11310) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 1/14/11 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/01/14/daily-readings-reflection-for-11411) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.