Tuesday, December 13, 2011 {St. Lucy, Virgin, Martyr (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is a medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.
-- St Augustine

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13
(Jerusalem's Sin and Redemption)
1 Jerusalem is doomed, that corrupt, rebellious city that oppresses its own people.
2 It has not listened to the Lord or accepted his discipline. It has not put its trust in the Lord or asked for his help.
9 “Then I will change the people of the nations, and they will pray to me alone and not to other gods. They will all obey me.

10 Even from distant Ethiopia  my scattered people will bring offerings to me.
11 At that time you, my people, will no longer need to be ashamed that you rebelled against me. I will remove everyone who is proud and arrogant, and you will never again rebel against me on my sacred hill.
12 I will leave there a humble and lowly people, who will come to me for help.  The people of Israel who survive will do no wrong to anyone, tell no lies, nor try to deceive.
13 They will be prosperous and secure, afraid of no one.”
Psalms: Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23
2 I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad!
3 Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness; let us praise his name together!
6 The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles.
7 His angel guards those who honor the Lord and rescues them from danger.
17 The righteous call to the Lord, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.
19 Good people suffer many troubles, but the Lord saves them from them all;
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
(The Parable of the Two Sons)
28 “Now, what do you think? There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’
29 ‘I don't want to,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. ‘Yes, sir,’ he answered, but he did not go.
31 Which one of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The older one,” they answered.
So Jesus said to them, “I tell you: the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you.
32 For John the Baptist came to you showing you the right path to take, and you would not believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. Even when you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.