Monday of the Third Week of Advent
- St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli widow and foundress (1587-1651)
- St. Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa virgin and foundress (1813-1855)
- Saint of the day
First Reading
A star shall rise out of Jacob.
From the Book of Numbers
Num 24:2-7.15-17b
In those days, Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God was upon him. He delivered his oracle and said:
«Oracle of Balaam, son of Beor,
oracle of the man whose eye is opened;
oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falls down, but has his eyes uncovered.
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwellings, O Israel!
They stretch out like valleys,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes, which the Lord has planted,
like cedars beside the waters.
Water will flow from his buckets,
and his seed like abundant waters.
His king shall be greater than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.»
He delivered his oracle and said:
«Oracle of Balaam, son of Beor,
oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
oracle of him who hears the words of God
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falls down, but has his eyes uncovered.
I see him, but not now,
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall rise out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall spring up from Israel.»
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
From Ps 24 (25)
R. Make known to me, O Lord, your ways.
Make known to me, O Lord, your ways,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your fidelity and instruct me,
for you are the God of my salvation. R.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion
and your love, which is from everlasting.
Remember me in your mercy,
for your goodness’ sake, O Lord. R.
Good and upright is the Lord,
he shows sinners the right way;
he guides the humble in justice,
he teaches the poor his way. R.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, O Lord, your mercy
and grant us your salvation. (Ps 85:8)
Alleluia.
The Gospel of the day December 15, 2025
The baptism of John, where did it come from?
From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 21:23-27
At that time, Jesus entered the temple and, as he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him and said, «By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?»
Jesus answered them, «I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, where did it come from? From heaven or from men?»
They discussed it among themselves, saying, «If we say, “From heaven,” he will reply, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From men,” we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.»
So they answered Jesus, «We do not know.» He in turn said to them, «Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.»
The Gospel of the Lord.
Saint Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315-367)
bishop, doctor of the Church
De Trinitate, VII, 26-27
«By what authority are you doing these things?»
It depends on the Father that the Son resembles him. He comes from him, this Son who can be compared to him, for he is like him. He is equal to him, the Son who accomplishes his same works (Jn 5:36)… Yes, the Son accomplishes the works of the Father; that is why he asks us to believe that he is the Son of God. He does not thus arrogate a title that would not be due to him; he does not base his claim on his works. No, he bears witness that these are not his works, but those of his Father. And he thus attests that the splendor of his actions is due to his divine birth. But how could men have recognized in him the Son of God, in the mystery of this body he had assumed, in this man born of Mary? The Lord therefore performed all these works for the purpose of letting faith in him penetrate their hearts: “If I do the works of my Father, even if you do not want to believe in me, at least believe the works!” (Jn 10:38). If the humble condition of his body seems to constitute an obstacle to believing his word, he asks us to believe at least his works. For, indeed, why would the mystery of his human birth prevent us from perceiving the divine birth? … “If you do not want to believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father”… Such is the nature that he possesses from his birth; such is the mystery of a faith that will guarantee us salvation: we must not divide those who are one, not deprive the Son of his nature, and proclaim the truth of the Living God born of the Living God… “As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so also the one who eats me will live because of me” (Jn 6:57). “For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself” (Jn 5:26).
THE WORDS OF THE POPES
What is the authority that Jesus has? It is the style of the Lord, that ‘lordship’ – let’s say it this way – with which the Lord moved, taught, healed, listened. This “lordly” style – which is something that comes from within – shows… what does it show? Coherence. Jesus had authority because he was coherent between what he taught and what he did, that is, how he lived. That coherence is what gives the expression of a person who has authority: “This one has authority, this one has authority, because they are coherent,” meaning they give testimony. Authority is seen in this: coherence and testimony. (Pope Francis – Homily Santa Marta, January 14, 2020)
