Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 12-16-03

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 12-16-03 | New American Bible

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December 16, 2003
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

Psalm: Tuesday 1 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
Zeph 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.

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."

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For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments and discussion.

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Advent Reflections for All -- 2003 -- #47 and 48

The Advent Calendar -- #36

The Advent Wreath

The Jesse Tree

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From: Matthew 21:28-32

The Parable of the Two Sons

---

(Jesus told the chief priests and the elders,) [28] "What do you think?
A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and
work in the vineyard today.' [29] And he answered, 'I will not'; but
afterwards he repented and went. [30] And he went to the second and
said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. [31] Which
of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus
said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots
go into the kingdom of God before you. [32] For John came to you in the
way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax
collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you
did not afterward repent and believe him.

---

Commentary:

32. St. John the Baptist had shown the way to sanctification by
proclaiming the imminence of the Kingdom of God and by preaching
conversion. The scribes and Pharisees would not believe him, yet they
boasted of their faithfulness to God's teaching. They were like the son
who says "I will go" and then does not go; the tax collectors and
prostitutes who repented and corrected the course of their lives will
enter the Kingdom before them: they are like the other son who says "I
will not", but then does go. Our Lord stresses that penance and
conversion can set people on the road to holiness even if they have
been living apart from God for a long time.

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

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FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Adelaide was born in a noble Catholic family of Burgundy in the
year 931. At the age of sixteen, Adelaide was married to King Lothair
of Italy. After only three years of marriage, Adelaide lost her husband
and the kingdom was taken over by Berengarius II of Friuli. Adelaide
suffered much under the rule of Berengarius but within several years,
she and the kingdom were liberated by King Otto the Great of
Germany.

Soon after Otto freed Adelaide, the two married. Their marriage bore
three sons, one of whom succeeded his father to the throne.
Adelaide helped her husband rule justly and wisely and together,
they were crowned by Pope John XII in 962. In the year 973 Otto
died and his son gained the throne. Adelaide's son soon showed
himself unfit to rule and she became regent of the country until her
grandson could take the throne.

Adelaide's public life was marked by love and care for the poor. In
giving aid to the Church, she encouraged the acceptance of
monastic reforms throughout the kingdom, and built several
churches and monasteries. As Adelaide's grandson grew old enough
to rule, she retired to a Benedictine monastery near Strasbourg.
Adelaide died at the monastery on December 16, 999.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great
designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a Saint. -St. Ignatius Loyola


TODAY IN HISTORY

882 Pope John VIII dies
882 Pope Marinus I begins his reign


TODAY'S TIDBIT

Tomorrow begins the final step in preparation for Christmas. One of
the ways this is shown is by the "O Antiphons" which are used for the
Canticle of Mary at Evening Prayer. These antiphons are used
during the last week in preparation for Christmas and are named "O
Antiphons" because they all start with an exclamation "O". These
antiphons were put into text form during the sixth and seventh
centuries and are based on symbolism and texts from the bible. Most
people are familiar with the "O Antiphons" as they are represented in
the song "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all people struggling against substance abuse.

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Thought for the Day

Charity unites us to God... There is nothing mean in charity, nothing arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect.

 -- Pope St. Clement I

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Tuesday, December 16, 2003 Meditation Matthew 21:28-32 What’s the difference between a tax collector and a Pharisee? While we might create a long list of differences, today’s reading focuses on the issue of acceptance versus rejection. We should be careful, however, not to make sweeping generalizations based on this passage. We know that certain tax collectors and prostitutes were changed by Jesus. In him, they saw sin for what it was, as well as the hope of a new life. The “sinful woman” who anointed Jesus’ feet is one of the most touching examples. So too is Matthew, the tax collector who became one of Jesus’ closest followers and one of the four gospel writers. There was also Zacchaeus, who climbed up a sycamore tree just to see Jesus. And yet, in spite of all of these moving examples, we really can’t conclude that every tax collector and prostitute in Israel was changed. Conversely, while Jesus certainly had a number of enemies among the Pharisees and in Jerusalem’s ruling council, we do know that he had some supporters there as well. Certainly, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea—both Pharisees—believed in Jesus. Rather than lump all the religious leaders into one camp and the “public sinners” into another, we would do better to see that a person’s background or lifestyle is not the most important issue. The critical issue is whether or not someone is open to Jesus when he speaks to them. More than anything else, it’s a matter of openness to the Spirit’s work of revelation. What was it that touched these people? Was it Jesus’ love and compassion? Was it because Jesus accepted them as they were—as imperfect sinners—and then gave them a vision of what they could become? Was it because he offered them forgiveness and new hope? Was it his wisdom or his miracles? Probably, it was a combination of all of these, all brought together by the Holy Spirit to show them a life they never thought they could experience. Take some time to ask Jesus to touch your life more deeply today. Let him touch you just as he touched these other people. Let his love penetrate your heart. All you have to do is say, “Yes, Lord.” He will do the rest. “Lord, show yourself to me. Penetrate my heart. I want to know you more. I want to accept your plan for my life.”

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One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

<< Tuesday, December 16, 2003 >>

Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13

Psalm 34

Matthew 21:28-32

View Readings

NOW IS THE TIME (see 2 Cor 6:2)

“When John came preaching a way of holiness, you put no faith in him.” —Matthew 21:32

Are you ready to meet Christ this Christmas? The answer to this question should probably be: “Of course not, how can I be ready for Christmas when Advent isn’t over?” We need Advent. In fact, we need every day and every moment of Advent to have a true Christmas. A full Advent is not merely an option; it is a necessity.

When we realize this, we may feel hopeless if we have “goofed off” this Advent. If so, let us cry out to the Lord for mercy. He may multiply the remaining Advent days, or He may give us a delayed Christmas after our late Advent. There is hope for us to have Christmas if we will repent of wasting some of our Advent days and if we will obey God starting now. Jesus remarked that terrible sinners, such as tax collectors and prostitutes, enter God’s kingdom because they repent (Mt 21:32). There is hope in His mercy and our repentance.

Better an Advent now than never. Better a late Christmas than none. Live Advent fully — now.

Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to guide me to the truth of Advent (see Jn 16:13).

Promise: “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.” —Zep 3:9

Praise: Sarah turned her Advent around by deciding to attend daily Mass during the last half of Advent.