Readings for Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Zep 3:1-2, 9-13
This reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah contains parts of two Oracles. In the first section (v. 1-2), the leaders of Jerusalem are chastised as far from God (“She hears no voice” – To hear the voice of God was to be holy – the antithesis is to hear no voice). Although not explicit in the verses given, in v. 8 the oracle foresees God will judge the unholy and they shall be thrown down.
The next section (v.9-13) speaks of the coming messianic era – a time after the tyranny has passed, when the faithful remnant will be rewarded with salvation. The “poor in spirit”, for which this passage gives a major understanding for its later use, are saved and they shall live in peace (“They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them” This poetic vision is used elsewhere as an image of peace –see Isaiah 14:30, Ezekiel 34:25, and Micah 4:4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23
Psalm 34 is a song of thanksgiving. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Psalm 34:5, 7), can teach the "poor," those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone. This psalm, in the words of one being unjustly persecuted, echoes hope for deliverance and freedom. Response: “The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
“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.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 21:28-32
This passage is the first of three parables concerning the judgment of the people of Israel. This parable could be taken simply as the difference between saying and doing (see also Matthew 7:21; 12:50). Presented as it is as a question to the Jewish leaders, they are forced to admit that the son who did the father’s will was the one justified. Jesus then clarifies his meaning by setting the analogy of the two sons against religious leaders, who disbelieved the message of St. John the Baptist and the sinners (tax collectors and prostitutes) who did. This characterization does not mean that St. John led a righteous life but pointed to how one might be lead. Ultimately that parable tells the Jewish leaders that those they look down upon are achieving the inheritance of God before them because of their acts of repentance and devotion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We have added the pink Candle of Joy to the candles of Love and Hope bearing witness to the Light of Christ.
We continue to rejoice in spirit but our joy is tempered with today’s reminder that there are those who oppose the joy that flows from the freedom of spirit God gives us. There are those in great power who would shackle us with the chains of greed and a world view that feels remarkably like the way the Prophet Zephaniah saw the leadership of Jerusalem in his day “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.” It is almost as if scripture sings the opening verse of the Christmas song “You better watch out!”
Jesus gives us a more interior warning. In the Parable of the Two Sons he contrasts the behavior of one who outwardly professes the proper attitude of love and respect, but whose actions belie his words and one whose outward attitude is incorrect but whose heart compels right actions.
While Jesus is using the analogy to show that the “tax collectors and prostitutes” saw the error of their ways and repented in St. John’s Baptism, the Chief Priests and Scribes – the Jewish leadership could not (would not) see their own error and turn back to God.
The message for us in that parable is very obvious. Our spiritual journey must be one constantly building upon a new understanding of the requirements of holiness. Our actions must follow hearts filled with joy and love of Jesus. On our best days, we must recognize that we have made missteps and need to correct our actions and thinking. We must recognize that there are those who will work very heard to bring us down false paths. They hate the light and hear no voice.
Today our prayer is this; that in our love and desire for the Lord, we might rejoice with an interior light that shows others that we have chosen the way of the righteous and cheerfully turn from temptation to do what God wishes. We do and pray this knowing that it will not be easy – the lion still prowls the night and we must be on our guard.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Advent and Triumph of Christ” (detail) by Hans Memling, 1480
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Zep 3:1-2, 9-13
This reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah contains parts of two Oracles. In the first section (v. 1-2), the leaders of Jerusalem are chastised as far from God (“She hears no voice” – To hear the voice of God was to be holy – the antithesis is to hear no voice). Although not explicit in the verses given, in v. 8 the oracle foresees God will judge the unholy and they shall be thrown down.
The next section (v.9-13) speaks of the coming messianic era – a time after the tyranny has passed, when the faithful remnant will be rewarded with salvation. The “poor in spirit”, for which this passage gives a major understanding for its later use, are saved and they shall live in peace (“They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them” This poetic vision is used elsewhere as an image of peace –see Isaiah 14:30, Ezekiel 34:25, and Micah 4:4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23
Psalm 34 is a song of thanksgiving. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Psalm 34:5, 7), can teach the "poor," those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone. This psalm, in the words of one being unjustly persecuted, echoes hope for deliverance and freedom. Response: “The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
“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.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 21:28-32
This passage is the first of three parables concerning the judgment of the people of Israel. This parable could be taken simply as the difference between saying and doing (see also Matthew 7:21; 12:50). Presented as it is as a question to the Jewish leaders, they are forced to admit that the son who did the father’s will was the one justified. Jesus then clarifies his meaning by setting the analogy of the two sons against religious leaders, who disbelieved the message of St. John the Baptist and the sinners (tax collectors and prostitutes) who did. This characterization does not mean that St. John led a righteous life but pointed to how one might be lead. Ultimately that parable tells the Jewish leaders that those they look down upon are achieving the inheritance of God before them because of their acts of repentance and devotion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We have added the pink Candle of Joy to the candles of Love and Hope bearing witness to the Light of Christ.
We continue to rejoice in spirit but our joy is tempered with today’s reminder that there are those who oppose the joy that flows from the freedom of spirit God gives us. There are those in great power who would shackle us with the chains of greed and a world view that feels remarkably like the way the Prophet Zephaniah saw the leadership of Jerusalem in his day “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.” It is almost as if scripture sings the opening verse of the Christmas song “You better watch out!”
Jesus gives us a more interior warning. In the Parable of the Two Sons he contrasts the behavior of one who outwardly professes the proper attitude of love and respect, but whose actions belie his words and one whose outward attitude is incorrect but whose heart compels right actions.
While Jesus is using the analogy to show that the “tax collectors and prostitutes” saw the error of their ways and repented in St. John’s Baptism, the Chief Priests and Scribes – the Jewish leadership could not (would not) see their own error and turn back to God.
The message for us in that parable is very obvious. Our spiritual journey must be one constantly building upon a new understanding of the requirements of holiness. Our actions must follow hearts filled with joy and love of Jesus. On our best days, we must recognize that we have made missteps and need to correct our actions and thinking. We must recognize that there are those who will work very heard to bring us down false paths. They hate the light and hear no voice.
Today our prayer is this; that in our love and desire for the Lord, we might rejoice with an interior light that shows others that we have chosen the way of the righteous and cheerfully turn from temptation to do what God wishes. We do and pray this knowing that it will not be easy – the lion still prowls the night and we must be on our guard.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Advent and Triumph of Christ” (detail) by Hans Memling, 1480
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved
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