Readings of the day
First Reading: Numbers 24:2-7,15-17a
Psalm: 24 (25):4bc-5ab,6-7bc,8-9
Gospel: Matthew 21:23-27
In those days, Jesus entered the temple, and as he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, “From heaven,’ he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, “Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ”