READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the Book of Zephaniah
ZEP 3:1-2, 9-13
Thus says the LORD:
Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted,
to the tyrannical city!
She hears no voice,
accepts no correction;
In the LORD she has not trusted,
to her God she has not drawn near.
For then I will change and purify
the lips of the peoples,
That they all may call upon the name of the LORD,
to serve him with one accord;
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
and as far as the recesses of the North,
they shall bring me offerings.
On that day
You need not be ashamed
of all your deeds,
your rebellious actions against me;
For then will I remove from your midst
the proud braggarts,
And you shall no longer exalt yourself
on my holy mountain.
But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
Nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
They shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them..
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew
MT 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
Tuesday of the Third Week in Advent
Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
(Mt 21:28-32)
God’s Word for Us
Dear people of God,
In the Word of God today, God shows humanity that there are two types of people in the world: those who listen to the word of God and put it into practice, and those who do not listen and do not put it into practice.
God wants to warn and let mankind know that those who listen to God’s Word and put it into practice, please God and will enjoy happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who do not listen to the Word of God and do not put it into practice are not of God. When someone does not belong to God, that person’s soul belongs to Satan’s world. The world of Satan is always walking in darkness, in sin, in hatred, in jealousy, in selfishness, and is always suffering the torments of Satan.
Through the parable of the two sons, God calls all mankind to run to God and to put His Word into practice. Do not push the Word of God out of your ears and be snatched away by Satan who will creep in to speak the words of the devil. God calls all mankind: Be awake to listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. God has told all mankind that those who put the Word of God into practice will be saved, and those who do not put the Word of God into practice will be consumed by hellfire. That is the truth that God gives to mankind, to proclaim and sow His own Word in the hearts of each person. He invites everyone: Stand up straight and walk in the light of the Word of God. Only then will life, happiness, and peace stay with humanity, and stay with each soul.
Before God the Father, everyone will have to pay for their actions. Every dot, comma, every small sin, and every great sin must be atoned before the fair and just God the Father. God loves mankind, and that is why He came and stayed with mankind. He proclaimed the very Word of God the Father to each person. God does not want mankind to fall into the traps of Satan. Therefore, the Word of God today invites all humanity: Listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. Do not ignore the Word of God. Do not just speak the Word of God with your lips and mouth but fail to practice it with your heart; that is not pleasing to God.
God wants all mankind to put their heart, mind, and strength into practicing the Word of God. By doing so, happiness and peace will remain with humanity and each soul. If everyone listens to and practices the Word of God, humanity will be filled with the love, peace, and happiness that God calls for every day. Only when mankind lives in harmony and love will the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven come to every soul.
God does not want people to be separated from God’s love, away from God’s commandments. Every day He earnestly calls upon mankind to run to God and put God’s Word into practice. The Word of God is love, and it will always be extended and given to each soul who listens and practices the Word of God.
Thanks Be to God. Amen.
