Daily Readings - Tue Dec 15 2020
Zephaniah
1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!2She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God.9"For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.10From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.11"On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.12But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,13those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."
Matthew
28"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'29And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.30And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go.31Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of repentance, humility, and the importance of living out our faith in sincerity. In the first reading from Zephaniah, we hear a prophetic call to the people of Jerusalem, who have become complacent and rebellious. Zephaniah warns them of the consequences of their pride and lack of trust in God, but he also offers a message of hope: a remnant of humble and faithful people will be restored and will live in peace, trusting in the Lord. This passage reminds us that God’s justice is not about punishment but about purification and renewal.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the two sons, challenging the chief priests and Pharisees to examine their own hypocrisy. The first son initially refuses his father’s request but later repents and obeys, while the second son agrees eagerly but fails to follow through. Jesus uses this story to critique the religious leaders who claimed to be faithful but did not live out their faith in action. He then contrasts them with tax collectors and prostitutes, who, despite their sinfulness, were able to recognize their need for repentance and turn to God. This parable emphasizes that it is not words or appearances that matter, but the sincerity of our hearts and our willingness to act in accordance with God’s will.
These readings call us to reflect on our own lives. How often do we, like the Pharisees, present ourselves as righteous on the outside while neglecting to live out our faith in humility and love? How often do we, like the first son, resist God’s call but later repent and follow Him? The good news is that God is always ready to welcome us back, to restore us, and to give us new life. Let us ask ourselves today: Are we living as humble and faithful servants of the Lord, or are we caught up in our own pride and complacency? May we learn to trust in God’s mercy and to follow Him with sincerity, so that we may truly bear fruit in our lives.