God asks that we submit to his will and his commandments.

If we do that, God will lead us and teach us the way that we should go.

They may laugh at us, insult us, or call us hypocrites.

But if we remain faithful in following the Lord, we will live in his presence forever.

 

St. Lucy, virgin & martyr

＊＊＊ 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 have been like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from my presence.

 

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6 Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

 

＊＊＊ 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."

 

Gospel 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 the experience that after we have done something good for others 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.