14 Dec 2010, Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church

Reading 1
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.

Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23 Responsorial Psalm
R. (7a)

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Gospel
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.”

Meditation: Psalm 34

“I will bless the Lord at all times.” (Psalm 34:2)

Yes, Lord, I will bless you at all times—no matter what happens today. I will praise you and thank you because you are good and everything you do is good. As my day starts, I want to shout it out: You are good! You fill me with your love, so that what you put in my heart flows out to the people around me. You satisfy me with your peace and joy.

Lord, your goodness and mercy follow me all the time. It’s as if they are chasing after me—and sometimes they even catch me! Thank you, Lord, that when I call out to you for help, it is not as if I am shouting against the wind. No, you hear my every word, even the most hesitant whispers of my heart. When I am in trouble or pain, you come and comfort me. When sorrow fills my thoughts and darkens my heart, you lift the yoke of anxiety from me and hold me close.

Yes, Lord, you rescue me from anxiety and difficulties. And in those situations that have no immediate resolution, you stay near to me, even though I don’t always know it. My faith tells me that you are here, ready to listen and to act according to your own wisdom and timing. You even lift me up when my own sin makes me stumble and fall. You are so faithful because you have redeemed me from death and have made me yours forever and ever. How gracious you are, Lord! And how humble! You take delight in saving the people you love, even when they have wandered far from your presence and your laws.

Thank you, Jesus, for freeing me from guilt and condemnation! What a blessing to be able to turn to you and be set free from the hold that sin has on my life! What joy to know that you don’t condemn me but forgive me and love me into wholeness. Every day, you offer me a garment of praise in place of despair; radiant joy instead of darkening shame. You are slow to anger and quick to forgive, and I rejoice in your love!

“Lord, I praise you and thank you for your goodness! I will bless you, Lord, at all times.”

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