December 2, 2021Thursday of the First Week of Advent

2021년 12월 2일 대림 제1주간 목요일 



오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서

<신의를 지키는 의로운 겨레가 들어간다.>

이사야서. 26,1-6
1 그날 유다 땅에서는 이러한 노래가 불리리라.
“우리에게는 견고한 성읍이 있네.
그분께서 우리를 보호하시려고 성벽과 보루를 세우셨네.
2 신의를 지키는 의로운 겨레가 들어가게 너희는 성문들을 열어라.
3 한결같은 심성을 지닌 그들에게 당신께서 평화를, 평화를 베푸시니
그들이 당신을 신뢰하기 때문입니다.
4 너희는 길이길이 주님을 신뢰하여라. 주 하느님은 영원한 반석이시다.
5 그분께서는 높은 곳의 주민들을 낮추시고 높은 도시를 헐어 버리셨으며
그것을 땅바닥에다 헐어 버리시어 먼지 위로 내던지셨다.
6 발이 그것을 짓밟는다.
빈곤한 이들의 발이, 힘없는 이들의 발길이 그것을 짓밟는다.”

복음

<아버지의 뜻을 실행하는 이라야 하늘 나라에 들어간다.>

마태오. 7,21.24-27
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
21 “나에게 ‘주님, 주님!’ 한다고 모두 하늘 나라에 들어가는 것이 아니다. 하늘에 계신 내 아버지의 뜻을 실행하는 이라야 들어간다.
24 그러므로 나의 이 말을 듣고 실행하는 이는 모두 자기 집을 반석 위에 지은 슬기로운 사람과 같을 것이다. 25 비가 내려 강물이 밀려오고 바람이 불어 그 집에 들이쳤지만 무너지지 않았다. 반석 위에 세워졌기 때문이다.
26 그러나 나의 이 말을 듣고 실행하지 않는 자는 모두 자기 집을 모래 위에 지은 어리석은 사람과 같다. 27 비가 내려 강물이 밀려오고 바람이 불어 그 집에 휘몰아치자 무너져 버렸다. 완전히 무너지고 말았다.”  

 

December 2, 2021

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

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

Reading 1

Is 26:1-6

On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:

"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."

Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.

 

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, 
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes. 
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

 

Gospel

Mt 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house. 
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  

And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

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

 In the reading of today's Gospel lesson, I had to smile at the irony (for me!) of Jesus' words to his disciples about a home's firm foundation.  You see, as a person in the middle of a re-construction project at my home, undertaken for the sole purpose of shoring up a crumbling, 90-year-old foundation, I understand well the importance of a solid footing!  But I've also experienced with this project humility and the need for faith, as called for in Isaiah's reading.  I need not make my home "lofty," only to give it its solid, unmoving base.

During this time of Advent, as we await the birth of the Christ child, these readings call us to trust in the firm foundation of our faith through the imagery of a strong city, and a solid home.  "Trust in the LORD forever!" God provided a rock on which to build the church's foundation, and Jesus reminds his disciples and us that as humans, we must likewise build our homes - our faith - on solid rock. Winds of change will blow and challenge us. But a humble faith, a home built on firm foundation, a city that is strong, just, keeps its faith and strives for peace: these foundation metaphors help us to understand that God will "protect us."  We must keep the LORD as our foundation - at our core.  This can be a difficult ask; I too often waver in faith and trust.  But as we patiently await the celebration of Jesus' birth, we can look forward to renewing our faith and strengthening anew that core: our rock foundation.  Blessed Advent!

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

 

RELIGION AND SIN DON’T MIX

Jesus said: “None of those who cry out, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.” —Matthew 7:21

When we think of sinners, we think of atheists, agnostics, and those who scorn religion. These people are certainly sinners. Nevertheless, sinners also include religious people who cry out to God, “Lord, Lord,” but do not do His will (Mt 7:21). The first sinners, Adam and Eve, had a personal relationship with the Lord, for they walked with Him in the evening (see Gn 3:8). Cain, the first murderer, was jealous of his brother Abel over a religious matter (Gn 4:4ff). The high priests, Pharisees, and scribes who had Jesus crucified were very religious. Many of those who persecuted and executed early Christians claimed to be worshipping God (see Jn 16:2).

This is not to say that religion is bad. Indeed, religion is a “great gain” (1 Tm 6:6) as long as we do not approach our “religion only as a means of personal gain” (1 Tm 6:5)  and “make a pretense of religion but negate its power” (2 Tm 3:5).

As we prepare for Christmas, let us make sure that there will be no lip service (Mt 15:8), pretense, or hypocrisy in our Christmas. Rather than giving Christ the “silent treatment” this Christmas, let us totally give our lives to Jesus and be His witnesses. Have a religious, holy Christmas season.

Prayer:  Father, make me ever more religious and obedient.

Promise:  “Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.” —Is 26:4

Praise:  Joy was a cultural Catholic until she received the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

 What's the best security against disaster and destruction? In the ancient world a strong city, an impregnable fortress, and a secure house were built on solid rock because they could withstand the forces of nature and foe alike. Isaiah speaks of God as an "everlasting rock" (Isaiah 26:4). He is the rock of refuge and deliverance (Psalm 18:2) and the rock in whom there is no wrong (Psalm 92:15). Scripture warns that destruction will surely come to those who place their security in something other than God and his kingdom. Jesus' parables invite us to stake our lives on the coming of his kingdom or face the consequences of being unprepared when the day of testing and destruction will surely come.

The only foundation that can keep us safe
When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the following proverb in mind: "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever"(Proverbs 10:25). What's the significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster! Jesus prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool humans with our speech, but God cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly is - with its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm 139:2).

There is only one way in which a person's sincerity can be proved, and that is by one's practice. Fine words can never replace good deeds. Our character is revealed in the choices we make, especially when we are tested. Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes, especially when it will cost you? Do you lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the truth will cause you injury or embarrassment? A true person is honest and reliable before God, one's neighbor and oneself. Such a person's word can be taken as trustworthy.

Christ is the only rock that can save us
What can keep us from falsehood and spiritual disaster? If we make the Lord Jesus and his word the rock and foundation of our lives, then nothing can shake us nor keep us from God's presence and protection. Is the Lord Jesus and his word the one sure foundation of your life?

Lord Jesus, you are the only foundation that can hold us up when trials and disaster threaten us. Give me the wisdom, foresight, and strength of character I need to do what is right and good and to reject whatever is false and contrary to your will. May I be a doer of your word and not a hearer only.

Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Turn your vision to the Savior, by Verecundus (died 552 AD)

"When Hezekiah, the king of Judah and son of Ahaz, was gravely ill and had learned of his coming death by the prophecy of Isaiah, he turned his face to the wall and wept bitterly (2 Kings 20:1-3). Immediately the Lord in his mercy not only averted the destruction of imminent death but also added fifteen years to the man's life. Then, at last, Hezekiah sang this song (Isaiah 38:10-20). Hezekiah, a holy man who reigned at that time over all of Israel, displayed the Lord's form: clearly he had every movement of body, soul and mind in subjection to himself, and he accepted the consequences of his infirmity and weakness. He knew without doubt through the prophetic message that the end of his life was approaching. For the longer we seem to live, the more indubitably is our future death foreknown to us. And if we turn our face to the wall when struck by the fear of death, that is, if we direct the vision of our hearts to the Savior, who is here represented by the wall because he is elsewhere called 'a wall,' we will be saved, inasmuch as he saves the faithful who dwell within him from a great many attacks. 'In the city of our strength,' says Isaiah, 'is the Savior established as a wall and a fortress' (Isaiah 26:1). Behold, the Savior is said to be a wall." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE CANTICLE OF EZEKIEL 5.1-2)

 

 

More Homilies

December 5, 2019 Thursday of the First Week of Advent