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2ND WEEK OF ADVENT: Psalter: Week 2 / (Red)
St. Lucy, virgin & martyr
Responsorial Psalm: Ps: 1: 1-2, 3, 4, 6: Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
1st Reading: Isaiah 48: 17-19
Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, Yahweh, your God, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go.
Had you paid attention to my commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Your descendants would been like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from my presence.
Gospel: Matthew 11: 16-19
Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain: ‘We played the flute for you, but you would not dance. We sang a funeral song, but you would not cry!’
For John came fasting, and people said, ‘He is possessed by a demon!’ Then, the Son of Man came. He ate and drank; and people said, ‘Look at this man: a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet, wisdom is vindicated by her works.”
REFLECTION:
“Jesus’ steadfast heart.”
The season of Advent is a time to fortify the good in us. It is the time to allow the seed of goodness which God has planted in our hearts to grow. Sometimes, we may have some experiences when after we have done something good for others, and at times to the best of our ability, we are given negative criticisms in return. Because of this, we may be discouraged, and the experience may dampen our spirit. However, we need to remember that every good deed we have done already serves as a vindication of the kind of person we have already become. Furthermore, Jesus exhorts us not to lose composure. We should never get tired of doing what we believe is good even if others do not positively respond to the good things we do.
Our Gospel pericope for today speaks of Jesus’ steadfast heart to continue doing what is good while at the same time correcting the childish ways of his generation. Sadly, the people were not able to see the good things done either by Jesus or by John the Baptist. Nevertheless, nothing could stop either John or Jesus from doing what is good.
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