Gospel: December 15, 2023

(Friday)

2nd Week of Advent

Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Responsorial Psalm: Ps: 1: 1-2, 3, 4 & 6

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

1st Reading: Isaiah 48: 17-19Thus 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: 16-19Now, 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:“The way of the world is not God’s way.”

We live in a world that reveres power. People destroy their health and relationships and even risk their souls to get more power or to hold on to the power they have. We see the effects of this quest for power in the wars and other violence that pervades our world, in the exploitation of people, especially the poor and vulnerable, and in the destruction of our planet.

But the way of the world is not God’s way. 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. His path will lead us to a place of peace and righteousness. People who value power will not understand the way we choose to live. 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.