Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 13, 2022
First Reading: Zephaniah 3.1-2, 9-13
1Woe to the provocatrix and the redeemed city, the dove2She has not heeded the voice, nor has she accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she did not draw near to her God9For then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, so that all may invoke the name of the Lord and may serve him with one shoulder10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my supplicants, the sons of my diaspora, will carry a gift to me11In that day, you will not be ashamed over all of your inventions, by which you have transgressed against me. For then I will take away from your midst your arrogant boasters, and you will no longer be exalted on my holy mountain12And I will bequeath into your midst a poor and needy people, and they will hope in the name of the Lord13The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. For they will pasture and will recline, and there will be no one to strike them with terror
Psalm 34
1To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever in my mouth2In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice3Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself4I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations5Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded6This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations7The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, and he will rescue them8Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Blessed is the man who hopes in him9Fear the Lord, all you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him10The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing11Come forward, sons. Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord12Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days13Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit14Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it15The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers16But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth17The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations18The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit19Many are the afflictions of the just, but from them all the Lord will free them20The Lord preserves all of their bones, not one of them shall be broken21The death of a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly22The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will fare badly
Gospel: Matthew 21.28-32
28But how does it seem to you? A certain man had two sons. And approaching the first, he said: ‘Son, go out today to work in my vineyard.29And responding, he said, ‘I am not willing.’ But afterwards, being moved by repentance, he went30And approaching the other, he spoke similarly. And answering, he said, ‘I am going, lord.’ And he did not go31Which of the two did the will of the father?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them: "Amen I say to you, that tax collectors and prostitutes shall precede you, into the kingdom of God32For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. Yet even after seeing this, you did not repent, so as to believe him
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about repentance, obedience, and the true nature of our relationship with God. The prophet Zephaniah addresses a rebellious city, urging its people to turn back to the Lord. Despite their initial defiance, God promises restoration, vowing to remove the arrogant and bring in the humble who seek Him. This message of hope is tempered by a call to sincerity, as Zephaniah emphasizes that true faith is not about words but about a changed life.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a parable of two sons, highlighting the contrast between intention and action. The first son, though initially resistant, ultimately obeys, while the second agrees but does not follow through. Jesus uses this to illustrate that those often considered outsiders—tax collectors and prostitutes—enter the kingdom before the self-righteous, because they humbly repent. This challenges us to examine our own commitments and actions, reminding us that faith is not just about what we say, but what we do.
These readings remind us that true faith requires humility and action. We are called to move beyond mere words to a life transformed by repentance. In our daily lives, let us reflect on our commitments, ensuring that our actions align with our beliefs. May we embrace the humility to repent and the courage to live out our faith, trusting in God's promise of restoration and renewal.