Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 185
Lectionary: 185
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.
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
PsalmPS 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.
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.
GospelMT 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.”
“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.”
Meditation: The
Lord will lead you in the way you should go
Do you
seek God's way of peace and wisdom for your life? The prophets remind us that
God’s kingdom is open to those who are teachable and receptive to the word of
God. Through their obedience to God's word and commandments, they receive not
only wisdom and peace for themselves, but they, in turn become a blessing to their
children and their offspring as well. Jesus warns the generation of his day to
heed God's word before it is too late. He compares teachers and scholars, and
those who have been taught, with stubborn playmates who refuse to follow any
sort of direction or instruction. Jesus’ parable about disappointed playmates
challenge us to examine whether we are selective to only hear what we want to
hear. The children in Jesus' parable react with dismay because they cannot get
anyone to follow their instruction. They complain that if they play their music
at weddings, no one will dance or sing; and if they play at funerals, it is the
same. This refrain echoes the words of Ecclesiastes 3:4 – "there is a time
to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance." Are you
in tune with the message of God's kingdom? And do you obey it without
reservation? Jesus' message of the kingdom of God is good news to
those who will listen and it produces true joy and spiritual freedom for them;
but it is also a warning for those who refuse to obey.
Why did
the message of John the Baptist and the message of Jesus meet with deaf ears
and resistance? It was out of jealously and spiritual blindness that the
scribes and Pharisees attributed John the Baptist's austerities to the devil
and they attributed Jesus' table fellowship with sinners as evidence that he
must be a false messiah. They succeeded in frustrating God's plan for their
lives because they had closed their hearts to the message of John the
Baptist and now to Jesus' message. What can make us spiritually dull and slow
to hear God's voice? Like the generation of Jesus' time, our age is marked by
indifference and contempt, especially in regards to the things of heaven.
Indifference dulls our ears to God's voice and to the good news of the gospel.
Only the humble of heart can find joy and favor in God's sight. Is you life in
tune with Jesus's message of hope and salvation? And do you know the joy of
obedience to God word?
"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."
 A Lesson about the Heart |
|
Memorial of Saint
Lucy, virgin and martyr
|
|
Matthew 11: 16-19
Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I
compare this generation? It is like children who sit in the 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.”
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this new day and
all the graces you will bless me with. I believe in you and your love for me.
I wish to show my love for you by staying focused on what is most important
during this time of prayer: you and your most holy will.
Petition: Lord Jesus, help me to see your actions and
the actions of others with the eyes of faith.
1. Eyes of Faith: God comes to us in many and various ways
each day. Sometimes he reveals his goodness to us when he allows us to
succeed in life. Other times he permits trials in our life so that we can
cling more surely to him. The proper response to God’s constant action in our
lives will only be possible if we are able to discern that it is indeed God
who is acting –– that it is God who is “playing the flute for us” or “singing
a dirge for us”. We need the eyes of faith. A habitual interior attitude of
faith and trust in God allows us to live with great peace and purpose.
2. Worldly Standards of Judgment: Jesus complains when the crowds use worldly
standards to size him up. They are caught up in their opinions and all too
easily pass judgment on him. They accuse Jesus of being possessed by a demon,
a drunkard, and so on. How easy is it for me to judge others by accepting or
rejecting them for mere external things? What are my internal attitudes
towards others? Lord, help me to be detached from all worldly standards of
judging and to embrace each soul, loving them as you do, and to leave the
judging to you.
3. But Wisdom is Vindicated by Her
Works: Despite the
rejection and harsh judgments of many, Jesus went about doing good. This is
what he meant by saying that “wisdom is vindicated by her works”. In the same
vein he also taught that you can recognize a tree by its fruits. Knowing how
easy it is to misjudge others, I cannot permit myself to worry about what
others may say or think of me. Rather I need to be busy like Jesus, going
about doing good. Good actions speak for themselves, even if it may take a
while for others to perceive or appreciate them. When we trustfully follow
along to the flute or the dirge Our Lord is playing for us, and we do so for
his sake and for the sake of spreading his message, we can rest in the
certainty that God is blessing us and will bring his good works to fruition
through us.
Conversation with Christ: Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity to
spend time with you in prayer. Let it be my motivation for the day and bring
me to live a greater spirit of faith in you and the mission you have
entrusted me. How much it would help me to consider my actions, the actions
of others and your actions under the light of your love and good will. I do
believe that you permit everything that happens in my life for the sake of
bringing about a greater good, but Lord, increase my faith.
Resolution: I will strive to interpret the actions of
others in a positive way, excusing any defects I may perceive.
|
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, MATTHEW 11:16-19
(Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1)
(Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1)
KEY VERSE: "But wisdom is vindicated by her works" (v 19).
READING: Jesus was exasperated with those who opposed his work and the work of John the Baptist. Jesus compared these faithless ones to spoiled children who could not be satisfied. He recited a little verse that appeared in Aesop's fables (6th century before Christ): "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn." Those who opposed John did so because of his austere, ascetic life-style, yet at the same time they rejected Jesus because of his association with sinners and outcasts. John was thought to be "demon-possessed" and Jesus was said to be a "glutton and a drunkard" (v 19). Divine wisdom would vindicate the works of Jesus the Messiah and his herald John.
REFLECTING: Do I make rash judgments about those with whom I disagree?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, give me the wisdom to understand the other person's point of view.
DECEMBER 13. MEMORIAL OF LUCY, VIRGIN AND
MARTYR
Lucy (whose name means "bearer of
light") was a wealthy, young Christian who vowed her life to Christ. Her
mother, arranged a marriage for her, and for three years Lucy refused. To
change her mother's mind, Lucy prayed at the tomb of St. Agatha. When her
mother's hemorrhages were cured, she agreed with Lucy's desire to live for God.
Lucy rejected her pagan suitor, Paschasius, and he denounced her as a
Christian. The governor planned to force her into prostitution, but when guards
went to fetch her, they could not move her. The governor ordered her killed
instead. After torture that included having her eyes torn out, she was stabbed
to death. Legend says her eyesight was restored before her death. This and the
meaning of her name led to her patronage of those with maladies of the eyes.
Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life
Wisdom is justified by its deeds.Wisdom is a theme that runs through today’s readings. A wise person is a good listener, someone who will apply this wisdom in practical ways. In the psalm we are told if we keep God’s precepts we will be like a tree that bears fruit and never withers. Jesus was condemned by his contemporaries who said he didn’t conform. It’s not easy to stand apart from the mainstream, to be a lone voice in the crowd. One woman from the audience stood out during the leaders’ debate before the last election. Not considering how it affected her personally, she was concerned for the asylum seekers and the lack of care and compassion in both speakers’ policies. I was proud of her and I know Jesus would be proud of her too. She epitomised the wisdom he referred to in the gospels.
December 13
St. Lucy
(d. 304)
St. Lucy
(d. 304)
Every little girl named Lucy must bite her tongue in
disappointment when she first tries to find out what there is to know about her
patron saint. The older books will have a lengthy paragraph detailing a small
number of traditions. Newer books will have a lengthy paragraph showing that
there is little basis in history for these traditions. The single fact survives
that a disappointed suitor accused Lucy of being a Christian and she was
executed in Syracuse (Sicily) in the year 304. But it is also true that her
name is mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer, geographical places are
named after her, a popular song has her name as its title and down through the
centuries many thousands of little girls have been proud of the name Lucy.
One can
easily imagine what a young Christian woman had to contend with in pagan Sicily
in the year 300. If you have trouble imagining, just glance at today’s
pleasure-at-all-costs world and the barriers it presents against leading a good
Christian life.
Her
friends must have wondered aloud about this hero of Lucy’s, an obscure
itinerant preacher in a far-off captive nation that had been destroyed more
than 200 years before. Once a carpenter, he had been crucified by the Roman
soldiers after his own people turned him over to the Roman authorities. Lucy
believed with her whole soul that this man had risen from the dead. Heaven had
put a stamp on all he said and did. To give witness to her faith she had made a
vow of virginity.
What a
hubbub this caused among her pagan friends! The kindlier ones just thought her
a little strange. To be pure before marriage was an ancient Roman ideal, rarely
found but not to be condemned. To exclude marriage altogether, however, was too
much. She must have something sinister to hide, the tongues wagged.
Lucy knew
of the heroism of earlier virgin martyrs. She remained faithful to their
example and to the example of the carpenter, whom she knew to be the Son of
God. She is the patroness of eyesight.
Comment:
If you are a little girl named Lucy, you need not bite your tongue in disappointment. Your patron is a genuine, authentic heroine, first class, an abiding inspiration for you and for all Christians. The moral courage of the young Sicilian martyr shines forth as a guiding light, just as bright for today’s youth as it was in A.D. 304.
If you are a little girl named Lucy, you need not bite your tongue in disappointment. Your patron is a genuine, authentic heroine, first class, an abiding inspiration for you and for all Christians. The moral courage of the young Sicilian martyr shines forth as a guiding light, just as bright for today’s youth as it was in A.D. 304.
Quote:
“The Gospel tells us of all that Jesus suffered, of the insults that fell upon him. But, from Bethlehem to Calvary, the brilliance that radiates from his divine purity spread more and more and won over the crowds. So great was the austerity and the enchantment of his conduct.”
“The Gospel tells us of all that Jesus suffered, of the insults that fell upon him. But, from Bethlehem to Calvary, the brilliance that radiates from his divine purity spread more and more and won over the crowds. So great was the austerity and the enchantment of his conduct.”
“So may it be with
you, beloved daughters. Blessed be the discretion, the mortifications and the
renouncements with which you seek to render this virtue more brilliant.... May
your conduct prove to all that chastity is not only a possible virtue but a
social virtue, which must be strongly defended through prayer, vigilance and
the mortification of the senses” (Blessed John XXIII, Letter to Women
Religious).
Patron Saint of:
Blind
Eye disorders
Blind
Eye disorders
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 11,16-19
Lectio:
Friday, December
13, 2013
2nd Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
too often we are deaf to your voice
and to the presence of your Son
among us, his people.
Inspire us by your prophets and your Spirit
that now is the right moment to change
and to commit ourselves
to the kind of life and to the justice
demanded by the kingdom.
Help us to make people see
that your Son is alive among us
and that he is our Lord for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11, 16-19
'What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place:
We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance;
we sang dirges, and you wouldn't be mourners.
'For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He is possessed."
The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners."
Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
3) Reflection
• The leaders, the wise, are not always pleased when someone criticizes or challenges them. That happened in the time of Jesus and happens today also, both in society and in the Church. John the Baptist, saw, criticized, and was not accepted. They said: “He is possessed by the devil!” Jesus, saw, criticized and was not accepted. They said: “He has lost his head!”, “Crazy!” (Mk 3, 21). “He is possessed by the devil!” (Mk 3, 22), “He is a Samaritan!” (Jn 8, 48), “He is not from God!” (Jn 9, 16). The same thing happens today. There are some persons who hold on to what has always been taught and they do not accept another way of explaining or of living faith. Then they invent reasons and pretexts so as not to adhere: “It is Marxism!”, “It is against God’s Law!”, “It is disobedience to tradition and to the teaching of the Church” and they complain for the lack of coherence of the people. They always invent some pretext so as not to accept the message of God which Jesus announced. In fact, it is relatively easy to find arguments and pretexts to refute those who think in a way different from ours.
• Jesus reacts and renders public their incoherence. They considered themselves wise, but they were like children who wish to amuse the people on the square and they rebel when people do not move according to the music that they play. Or those who consider themselves wise without really having anything truly wise. They only accepted those who had the same ideas as they had. And thus, they themselves, because of their incoherent attitude, condemned themselves.
4) Personal questions
• Up to what point am I coherent with my faith?
• Do I have a critical conscience regarding the social and ecclesiastical system which, some times, invents reasons and pretexts to legitimize the situation and to prevent any change?
5) Concluding Prayer
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. (Ps 1)
Lord our God,
too often we are deaf to your voice
and to the presence of your Son
among us, his people.
Inspire us by your prophets and your Spirit
that now is the right moment to change
and to commit ourselves
to the kind of life and to the justice
demanded by the kingdom.
Help us to make people see
that your Son is alive among us
and that he is our Lord for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11, 16-19
'What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place:
We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance;
we sang dirges, and you wouldn't be mourners.
'For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He is possessed."
The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners."
Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
3) Reflection
• The leaders, the wise, are not always pleased when someone criticizes or challenges them. That happened in the time of Jesus and happens today also, both in society and in the Church. John the Baptist, saw, criticized, and was not accepted. They said: “He is possessed by the devil!” Jesus, saw, criticized and was not accepted. They said: “He has lost his head!”, “Crazy!” (Mk 3, 21). “He is possessed by the devil!” (Mk 3, 22), “He is a Samaritan!” (Jn 8, 48), “He is not from God!” (Jn 9, 16). The same thing happens today. There are some persons who hold on to what has always been taught and they do not accept another way of explaining or of living faith. Then they invent reasons and pretexts so as not to adhere: “It is Marxism!”, “It is against God’s Law!”, “It is disobedience to tradition and to the teaching of the Church” and they complain for the lack of coherence of the people. They always invent some pretext so as not to accept the message of God which Jesus announced. In fact, it is relatively easy to find arguments and pretexts to refute those who think in a way different from ours.
• Jesus reacts and renders public their incoherence. They considered themselves wise, but they were like children who wish to amuse the people on the square and they rebel when people do not move according to the music that they play. Or those who consider themselves wise without really having anything truly wise. They only accepted those who had the same ideas as they had. And thus, they themselves, because of their incoherent attitude, condemned themselves.
4) Personal questions
• Up to what point am I coherent with my faith?
• Do I have a critical conscience regarding the social and ecclesiastical system which, some times, invents reasons and pretexts to legitimize the situation and to prevent any change?
5) Concluding Prayer
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. (Ps 1)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét