Dec 13: The Call to Prophesize

Rembrandt van Rijn: The Ass of Balaam Talking before the Angel

Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr
Reading I: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a

"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is clear, the oracle of one who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with his eyes uncovered: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near-- a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel (NRSV, Nm 24:15b-17a).”

Heavenly Father, you pursue us all with your Word. You are unrelenting in your love for us that leads us to understand your one Word spoken to all, often in spite of ourselves. Balaam was a diviner, a fortune teller for pay. He was one from whom blessings and curses could be bought and the king of Moab sought Balaam’s curse upon Israel. When Balaam set out to bargain with the king, his donkey responded to your messenger who blocked the path, even if Balaam himself was blind to the angel’s presence. Finally, your Word, Lord, came through clearly to Balaam who pronounced blessing upon blessing for Israel against the king of Moab's wishes.

Every one of us, if we listen carefully enough to your Word spoken to all, are capable of seeing implications of the moment in which we live for the future to which you call us. Balaam, for all of his weakness, in the end saw clearly: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near-- a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.

In the history of your people, Lord, you have raised up great prophets, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, who have listened so very carefully to your one Word spoken to every one of us at every moment. Help us, Lord, also to listen well, that we too may hear and understand more fully. As your prophets have guided your people through difficult times into the future and challenged them to lead more moral lives, so empower us that we may better grasp the moral and political situation in which we live and make sound judgments for tomorrow. Help us not only to judge well but then to act that our community and world may be ever more responsive to the life and power which you always offer to humankind. Shunning violence and oppression, may we be agents of your justice and peace.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen