Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
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
CARE FOR A DRINK?
“He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade.” —Psalm 1:3
The trees in the woods respond to running water. When you walk in the hills, you can find the streams simply by looking for certain bottomland trees. For example, sycamore trees live along streams. You can readily find a stream by looking for clusters of sycamore trees.
Jesus declared that if anyone thirsts, they should come to Him and He will give them the living water of the Spirit (see Jn 4:14; 7:37-38). Trees respond to running water. Why don’t humans unfailingly respond to the flowing water of the Holy Spirit?
God teaches us what is “for [our] good” (Is 48:17). Sadly, we human beings can be hard-hearted, not responding to God’s promptings of joy or sorrow (Mt 11:17). In fact, hard-hearted people go so far as to vilify those who do follow God’s promptings, such as Jesus and St. John the Baptizer (Mt 11:18-19). Jesus and John followed the living water; they responded to both the joyful and sorrowful promptings of God. The hard-hearted respond to neither. “Today, if you should hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb 3:7-8).
The trees long for running water. The deer longs for running water (Ps 42:2). We humans were born to thirst for running water, and especially for the flowing water of the Spirit that Jesus gives (Jn 7:37-38). “Come to the water” (Is 55:1). Drink fully of the running, flowing, living water of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father, may I thirst for Your Spirit as a newborn baby thirsts for milk (1 Pt 2:2).
Promise: “If you would hearken to My commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea.” —Is 48:18 Praise: St. Lucy’s prayers were instrumental in the healing of her mother from hemorrhages.
Praise: St. Lucy’s prayers were instrumental in the healing of her mother from hemorrhages.
Reflection 3
Shared from Daily Liturgy
By a sharp parable, Jesus pronounces judgement on his generation that has rejected something greater than the law and the prophets. Jesus and John approached the generation from two angles, but they refused to believe in both. Jesus accepted invitations to banquets, while John was a wilderness prophet whose diet consisted of locusts and who never banqueted. Jesus came as God’s ambassador to initiate relations with sinners, whereas John primarily took the role of biblical prophets. John asked his disciples to fast over Israel’s sins whereas Jesus came celebrating the kingdom like a wedding feast. Each did what was appropriate to his mission. However, people rejected both approaches. They accepted only the benefits such as healing and other miracles from Jesus and rejected his teachings which challenged them. How about our faith and commitment?
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 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.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 347: Holy Communion
There is no greater gift in this world than Holy Communion. And yet we so often approach that Sacrament with a distracted and inattentive heart. To overcome such a distraction you must first be convinced, with your entire mind, of the deep truths of the reality of Holy Communion. You must submit, with deep faith, to the reality that God is there, fully, in veiled form, coming to unite Himself with you in the most profound way. Second, as you believe, you must make an act of the will, choosing to receive Him not only into your body, but into every part of your being. Believe and then choose and the Lord of Mercy will transform your life through your worthy reception of Holy Communion (See Diary #1676).
Reflect upon the past several times you have gone forward to receive our Lord in Holy Communion. What was going through your mind at the time? Where was your heart in these moments? Renew your total trust in God as He comes to you through this most Precious Gift and resolve to receive Him more worthily the next time you receive this privilege.
Lord, please do renew my love for You as You come to me in Holy Communion. May I understand You as You come to me in this Precious Gift and may I choose You with my entire will. Jesus, I trust in You.
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