DAILY- HOMILY

15 December 2015, TUESDAY, 3rd Week of Advent         

Violet 

Zep 3:1-2, 9 – 13 / Mt 21:28 - 32

Reading: Zep 3:1-2, 9 – 13

     Woe to the rebellious, the defiled, the city that oppresses. She did not pay attention to the call nor accept the correction; she did not trust Yahweh nor did she approach her God. 

     At that time I will give truthful lips to the pagan nations that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve him with the same zeal. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia they will bring offerings to me.

     On that day you will no longer be ashamed of all your deeds when you were unfaithful to me; I will have removed from your midst the conceited and arrogant and my holy mountain will no longer be for you a pretext for boasting.

     I will leave within you a poor and meek people who seek refuge in God. The remnant of Israel will not act unjustly nor will they speak falsely, nor will deceitful words be found in their mouths. They will eat and rest with none to threaten them. 

Gospel: Mt 21:28 - 32

     Jesus went on to say, "What do you think of this? A man had two sons.  He went to the first and said to him, 'Son, today go and work in the vineyard.'  And the son answered, 'I do not want to.' But later he thought better of it and went. Then the father went to the second and gave him the same command. This son replied,  'I will go, sir,' but did not go. 

     "Which of the two did what the father wanted?" They answered, "The first." And Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the publicans and the prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to the kingdom of heaven.  For John came to show you the way of goodness, but you did not believe him, yet the publicans and the prostitutes did. You were witnesses of this, but you neither repented nor believed him."

Reflection:

     In the Gospel reading Jesus castigates the leaders of the Jews for refusing to recognize John the Baptist as God's messenger and to listen to his message of repentance: "yet the publicans and the prostitutes did . . . [they] are ahead of you on the way to the kingdom of heaven."

     In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah speaks of the blessing of the poor and the meek by God. The same message is re-echoed in Mary's Magnificat: "He has put down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the downtrodden. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." (Lk 1: 52 – 53)

     Jesus reiterates the same message in the Beatitudes: "Fortunate are those who have the spirit of the poor . . . the gentle . . . those who hunger and thirst for justice . . . the merciful: (Mt 5: 3 – 7)

     During Advent we thank God for his coming as man and pray for the coming of the kingdom of heaven now in our time and in the world to come, where "with justice he will judge the poor and with righteousness decide for the meek . . . and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord." (Is 11: 4, 9) 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     CELIA CHUA JAO

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     YEE WEI KOON

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the thanksgiving and personal intentions of Beny Chua.

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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