Friday of the Second Week of Advent
Lectionary: 185
Reading 1
Isaiah 48:17-19
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (see John 8:12) Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord will come; go out to meet him!
He is the prince of peace.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 11:16-19
Jesus said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by her works."
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Dancing and Mourning
Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’” Matthew 11:16–17
What does Jesus mean when He says “We played the flute for you…” and “we sang a dirge…?” The Church Fathers clearly identify this “flute” and “dirge” as the word of God that has been preached by the prophets of old. So many came before Jesus to prepare the way, but so many failed to listen. John the Baptist was the final and greatest prophet, and he called people to repentance, but few listened. Thus, Jesus points out this sad truth.
In our day and age, we have so much more than the prophets of the Old Testament. We have the incredible witness of the saints, the infallible teaching of the Church, the gift of the Sacraments and the life and teaching of the Son of God Himself as recorded in the New Testament. Yet, sadly, so many refuse to listen. So many fail to “dance” and “mourn” in response to the Gospel.
We must “dance” in the sense that the gift of Christ Jesus, by His life, death and resurrection should be the cause of our wholehearted rejoicing and eternal adoration. Those who truly know and love the Son of God are filled with joy! Furthermore, we must “mourn” on account of the countless sins in our own lives and in the lives of those all around us. Sin is real and prevalent, and a holy sorrow is the only appropriate response. Salvation is real. Hell is real. And both of these truths demand a total response from us.
In your own life, how fully have you allowed the Gospel to affect you? How attentive are you to the voice of God as it has been spoken through the lives of the saints and through our Church? Are you tuned in to the voice of God as He speaks to you in the depths of your conscience in prayer? Are you listening? Responding? Following? And giving your whole life in the service of Christ and His mission?
Reflect, today, upon the clear, unmistakable, transforming and life-giving words and presence of the Savior of the world. Reflect upon how attentive you have been in life to all that He has clearly spoken and to His very presence. If you do not find yourself “dancing” for God’s glory and “mourning” over the evident sins of your life and within our world, then recommit yourself to a radical following of Christ. In the end, the Truth that God has spoken throughout the ages and His holy and divine presence are all that matter.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
YIELDING TO THE JUDGE
“What comparison can I use to describe this breed? They are like children squatting in the town squares, calling to their playmates: ‘We piped you a tune but you did not dance! We sang you a dirge but you did not wail.’ ” —Matthew 11:16-17
If you read the comments section of any social media post, you will notice that people make judgments based on limited information. Though Jesus said that we should not judge (Mt 7:1), passing judgment is a commonplace activity in daily conversations or on social media. It is easy and lazy to make definitive judgments based upon limited information. We do not know another person’s motives, culpability, or the degree of formation of their conscience. Only the Lord knows the depths of a person’s heart (Jn 2:25).
Thanks be to God that He is our eternal Judge, rather than the courts of this world. God is “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4), “slow to anger and abounding in kindness” (Ps 103:8). He understands our weakness (Ps 103:14).
Rather than spending our time judging others, we should spend our life building our relationship with Jesus. Get to know Him as merciful Savior, before you meet Him as eternal Judge. “If you want to avoid judgment, stop passing judgment” (Mt 7:1). He is indeed the Judge, standing at the gate (Jas 5:9). The lyrics to a Christian song proclaim, “Look into your Judge’s eyes and see a Savior there.”
Prayer: Father, I plead guilty and throw myself upon Your mercy. I accept Your Son, Jesus, as my Salvation and the Holy Spirit as my Lawyer for the Defense.
Promise: “I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.” —Is 48:17
Praise: Marcie was a witness to openness toward life as she received with great joy the conception of her first child shortly after her marriage.
Reflection 3
Shared from God's Word
Today’s Gospel points to the Israelites’ unrealistic expectations when comparing John the Baptist to Jesus: one as an ascetic and the other as a hedonist. However, both ways of living are unacceptable to the Israelites. When John and Jesus do not live according to people’s expectations they are labelled. Demonising the Baptist, probably because of his appearance, they call Jesus ‘a glutton and a drunkard’ because He dines in the company of tax-collectors. They create images of John and Jesus according to their appearance and lifestyle. While creating negative images of John and Jesus, they create a negative image of themselves – people who fail to see the positive in others. Am I one who demonises and labels others?
Prayers
My glorious Lord Jesus, I acknowledge Your divine presence in my life and in the world all around me. Help me to be more attentive to the countless ways that You speak to me and come to me each and every day. As I discover You and Your holy word, fill me with joy. As I see my sin and the sins of the world, give me true sorrow so that I will work tirelessly to combat my own sin and bring Your love and mercy to those who are most in need. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord, I choose You and Your Will as my one possession in life. All else is passing and all else can be lost in an instant. But You, oh Lord, are eternal and You can never be taken away if I choose You. I love You, dear Lord, help me to remain firmly attached to You and Your Will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus, open my ears to hear the good news of your kingdom and set my heart free to love and serve you joyfully. May nothing keep me from following you wholeheartedly.
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