December 15, 2020 Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

2020년 12월 15일 대림 제3주간 화요일

 

1독서

 

스바니야 예언서. 3,1-2.9-13
 주님께서 이렇게 말씀하신다.

1 “불행하여라, 반항하는 도성, 더럽혀진 도성, 억압을 일삼는 도성!
2 말을 듣지 않고 교훈을 받아들이지 않는구나.
주님을 신뢰하지 않고 자기 하느님께 가까이 가지 않는구나.
9 그때에 나는 민족들의 입술을 깨끗하게 만들어 주리라.
그들이 모두 주님의 이름을 받들어 부르며
어깨를 나란히 하고 주님을 섬기게 하리라.
10 에티오피아 강 너머에서 나의 숭배자들, 흩어진 이들이 선물을 가지고 나에게 오리라.
11 그날에는 네가 나를 거역하며 저지른 그 모든 행실을
부끄러워하지 않아도 되리라.
그때에는 내가 네 가운데에서 거만스레 흥겨워하는 자들을 치워 버리리라.
그러면 네가 나의 거룩한 산에서 다시는 교만을 부리지 않으리라.
12 나는 네 한가운데에 가난하고 가련한 백성을 남기리니
그들은 주님의 이름에 피신하리라.
13 이스라엘의 남은 자들은 불의를 저지르지 않고 거짓을 말하지 않으며
그들 입에서는 사기 치는 혀를 보지 못하리라.
정녕 그들은 아무런 위협도 받지 않으며 풀을 뜯고 몸을 누이리라.”

 

 

복음

 

마태오. 21,28-32
 그때에 예수님께서 수석 사제들과 백성의 원로들에게 말씀하셨다.

28 “너희는 어떻게 생각하느냐?
어떤 사람에게 아들이 둘 있었는데, 맏아들에게 가서
‘얘야, 너 오늘 포도밭에 가서 일하여라.’ 하고 일렀다.
29 그는 ‘싫습니다.’ 하고 대답하였지만, 나중에 생각을 바꾸어 일하러 갔다.
30 아버지는 또 다른 아들에게 가서 같은 말을 하였다.
그는 ‘가겠습니다, 아버지!’ 하고 대답하였지만 가지는 않았다.
31 이 둘 가운데 누가 아버지의 뜻을 실천하였느냐?”
그들이 “맏아들입니다.” 하고 대답하자,
예수님께서 그들에게 말씀하셨다.
“내가 진실로 너희에게 말한다.
세리와 창녀들이 너희보다 먼저 하느님의 나라에 들어간다.
32 사실 요한이 너희에게 와서 의로운 길을 가르칠 때,
너희는 그를 믿지 않았지만 세리와 창녀들은 그를 믿었다.
너희는 그것을 보고도 생각을 바꾸지 않고 끝내 그를 믿지 않았다.”

 

December 15, 2020  

Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

 

Daily Readings — Audio 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 

 

Reading 1

 zep 3:1-2, 9-13

Thus says the LORD:
Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted,
to the tyrannical city!
She hears no voice,
accepts no correction;
In the LORD she has not trusted,
to her God she has not drawn near.

For then I will change and purify
the lips of the peoples,
That they all may call upon the name of the LORD,
to serve him with one accord;
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
and as far as the recesses of the North,
they shall bring me offerings.

On that day
You need not be ashamed 
of all your deeds,
your rebellious actions against me;
For then will I remove from your midst
the proud braggarts,
And you shall no longer exalt yourself
on my holy mountain.
But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
Nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
They shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them.
 

Responsorial Psalm 

ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, O Lord, do not delay;
forgive the sins of your people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

Gospel 

mt 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What is your opinion? 
A man had two sons. 
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. 
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 
Which of the two did his father’s will?” 
They answered, “The first.” 
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you. 
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did. 
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

 

 

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 

We are in the third week of Advent, one marked by joy that our Savior’s arrival is near!  But, it can be hard to feel joy, particularly during these times of intense struggling in our world.  Our readings highlight some potential barriers for us to feeling the joy of Christ’s arrival.

In our readings today, we hear from the prophet Zephaniah in the first reading, and about Jesus in the Gospel reading about those who hear, believe and act. A theme that emerges for me is about the need to examine our behaviors and lifestyle, and perhaps exhibit God’s mercy in new and explicit ways.  Jesus highlights how some of the religious leaders, and those who would have been expected to enter the kingdom of God, seemingly ignored the message of repentance and believing.  Perhaps they lacked follow through, having good intentions but not really showing their change of heart in their deeds.

It may be easy for me, and for us, to judge others.  It may be commonplace for us to measures ourselves as being in a place that is more advanced or better than others – others who are not as religious, not as moral, not as open to receiving God’s call.  We may have heard Jesus’ words for many years and think that we can be complacent with our deeds.  And yet, Jesus calls out this thinking and invites all of us to a deep openness to letting our hearts fall in love with, and be led by Jesus today during this Advent season and each day as we move forward.  

There are some challenging questions that these readings invite me to.  I ask myself:

• Where have I been quick to say “yes” in working in the vineyard but then lacked the follow through, or prioritization or real listening?
• When have I thought that I already knew how what to do and didn’t deeply hear what God was asking of me? 
• When have I doubted others’ willingness or ability to act in line with God’s invitation?
• When have I, even subtly, judged others and perceived myself as better than others?

And so, this season, as we are all struggling in new and ongoing ways, I pray for Christ’s light to transform my heart and deeds, and all of our hearts and deeds. I invite us to ask ourselves where we might change and intentionally act this season, potentially in a new and different way. We pray to know and model Christ’s joy in the world – particularly in this global pandemic, with increased COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths, in our economic insecurity, in our striving for racial justice and justice for all those on the margins.    

In these remaining days of this Advent season, may we truly know the joy that Christ offers us.

 

 

 

 

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

THE PRIDE OF LIFE” (1 JN 2:16, RSV-CE)

“For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, and you shall no longer exalt yourself on My holy mountain.” —Zephaniah 3:11

The Lord calls us to repent of pride, self-exaltation, and arrogance, and become “a people humble and lowly” (Zep 3:12). Pride can disqualify us from Christmas. Through humility, however, we can fit into the manger scene at Bethlehem with the lowly handmaid Mary, the poor Joseph, and the simple shepherds.

In our society, arrogance has almost reached new heights, if that were possible. Some people are so prideful they deny the truth of God’s Word, as if millions of people for thousands of years were too stupid to see that the Bible was just a book. Others deny the significance of the physical and traditional differences between men and women, as if the world has been in the dark for centuries until they and their friends arrived on the scene. “In laying claim to such knowledge, some men have missed the goal of faith” (1 Tm 6:21).

Moreover it’s not uncommon for Catholics to contradict the teaching of the Church and the Pope. They’re supposedly much more enlightened than past and current Church leaders. “These men pour abuse on things of which they are ignorant” (see 2 Pt 2:12). Some have even arbitrarily decided that the old concept of objective truth is now “out.” They have finally discovered, and now proudly announce to the world, that truth is relative.

The arrogance of our times approaches insanity. We must repent of arrogance. This is necessary for life and for Christmas.

Prayer:  Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like Yours (see Mt 11:29).

Promise:  “I will change and purify the lips of the peoples.” —Zep 3:9

Praise:  Frequent Confession serves to assist George in combatting the temptation to pride.

 

 

 

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

 

What kind of future are you preparing for? Jesus encourages us to think - to think about the consequences of our choices, especially the choices and decisions that will count not just for now but for eternity as well. The choices we make now will affect and shape our future, both our future on earth as well as in the life of the age to come.

Repaying a debt of gratitude and showing respect where it is due
Jesus tells a simple story of two imperfect sons to illustrate the way of God's kingdom. The father amply provided for his sons food, lodging, and everything they needed. Everything the father had belonged to them as well. The father also rewarded his sons with excellent work in his own vineyard. He expected them to show him gratitude, loyalty, and honor by doing their fair share of the daily work.

Converting both heart and will to do what is good and pleasing to God
The "rebellious" son told his father to his face that he would not work for him. But afterwards he changed his mind and did what his father commanded him. The "good" son said he would work for his father, but didn't follow through. He sought his own pleasure, contrary to his father's will. Now who was really the good son? Both sons disobeyed their father - but one repented and then did what the father told him. Jesus makes his point clear - Good intentions are not enough. And promises don't count unless they are performed.

A transformed heart filled with gratitude and respect
God wants to change our hearts so that we will show by our speech and by our actions that we respect his will and do it. God offers each one of us the greatest treasure possible - indestructable peace, joy, and friendship with him in his everlasting kingdom. We can lose that treasure if we refuse the grace - the free gift of God's blessing and strength - which the Lord Jesus has won for us through his victory on the cross. The Lord Jesus fills us with the gift of the Holy Spirit who works in and through us for the glory of God. Do you seek to please God and respect his will and loving plan for your life? Allow the Holy Spirit to to fill your heart with the peace, joy, and righteousness of God's kingdom (Romans 14:17).

Lord Jesus, change my heart that I may only desire that which is pleasing to you. Help me to respect your will and give me the strength, joy and perseverance to carry it out wholeheartedly.

Psalm 34:1-3,6-7,16-19,22

1 I will bless the L

ORD

 at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the L

ORD

; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the L

ORD

 with me, and let us exalt his name together!
6 This poor man cried, and the L

ORD

 heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the L

ORD

 encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
16 The face of the L

ORD

 is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the L

ORD

 hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The L

ORD

 is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the L

ORD

 delivers him out of them all.
22 The L

ORD

 redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The Father and his two sons, author unknown, from the 5th century A.D.

"Who is this if not the God who created all people and loves them with a fatherly affection, the God who preferred to be loved as a father rather than feared as a lord, even though he was Lord by nature? On this account, at the beginning of the commandments of the law, he did not say, 'You shall fear the Lord with all your heart' but 'you shall love the Lord with all your heart' (Deuteronomy 6:5). To elicit love is not characteristic of a lord but of a father. Of the two sons in this parable, the older one represents the Gentiles, since they come from their father Noah. The younger son represents the Jews, who come from Abraham. 'And approaching the first, he said, "Son, go and work today in my vineyard." 'Today' refers to this present age. How did he speak to his sons? He didn't address them face to face like man, but he spoke to the heart, like God. Man only utters words to the ear, but God supplies understanding to the mind." 

(excerpt from an incomplete Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, HOMILY 40)

  

 

More Homilies

December 13, 2016