Monday, December 12, 2005
MEMORIAL, ST. LUCY, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
DECEMBER 13, 2005
MEMORIAL, ST. LUCY, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
TUESDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT - YEAR I
ZEPHANIAH 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.
MATTHEW 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."
REFLECTION
All of us are not perfect. We may be like the first son who at
first refused to do what his father requested but later decided to
do it or we may be like the second son, who promises but does not
follow through. In both cases, at some point each son disappointed
the father.
The message today tells us not just to be like the first son. It
asks us: how well do we listen to God and how much do we follow
through? John the Baptist proclaimed this question to all passers-
by while he was in the wilderness. Many who responded were not just
ordinary people but sinners and the marginalized people of society.
The so-called respected people like the chief priests and elders,
didn't take John's message seriously, if they listened at all.
Today, perhaps many of us feel confined because of our jobs,
responsibilities or even our comfortable homes. Many of us feel so
secure and comfortable that we do not want to come out of our shells
and venture to the 'wilderness' where God's Word becomes louder and
clearer. When we hear His voice do we recognize it? How will we
respond? Which of the two sons in today's parable are we? Can we
say that we are neither one and that we shall answer the voice in
the wilderness with a faithful heart that is eager to follow God's
call?
PRAYER
"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."
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray -
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the personal intentions of Cha.
- for the continued and speedy recovery of Mike Torres.
- for the personal intentions, forgiveness, peace, reconciliation
and harmony of Charles Conrad H.C and Cheryl P.C.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Fr. Jesus Diaz, S.J.
- In Memoriam: James Yao E. Heong
- In Memoriam: Majorie Yao Robato (Jan 31, 1960 - Dec 13, 1997)
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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