Monday of Advent 3 – Num 24:2-7,15-17; Psalm 24:4-6,7-9; Matthew 21:23-27

It’s worth reading the vision of Balaam from the perspective of the whole story of the author of the book of Numbers. The king of Moab summoned the prophet so as to curse Israel. At first Balaam resisted and refused to go but buckled and gave in at one point and left, this caused the anger of the Lord. Then an angel with a sword stood on his road and stopped the donkey who Balaam beat three time to try to get it back on the road. The donkey spoke to him with a human voice, and the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes. The end of this story is a three-fold blessing for Israel and the prophesy of a star.

A story like a fairytale and seemly far from our real lives. Apparently. Too often we find it hard to resist the temptation to go the mountains of Moab where we expect rewards and honours. Then we need the angel’s sword and admonition of the donkey, thanks to which we gain far-sighted vision and discover that the Lord’s blessing means more than a palace full of gold and silver.

Blessed is the one who does not beat the donkey a fourth time.