Year of Saint Joseph
Other saints: Saint Valerian, Bishop, and Other Martyrs of North Africa (47 and 482); Saint Paul of Latros (956); Bd Victoria Fornari-Strata, Foundress (1562-1617); Bd Virginia Centurione-Bracelli (1587-1651); Saint Mary di Rosa, Foundress (1813-1855); Bd Charles Steeb, Founder (1775-1856);
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 61 1-5 The Reception of Visiting Monks
Mass: Zeph 3:1-2, 9-13; Resp Ps 34; Mt 21:28-32
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be ever in my mouth.
BEHOLD THE LORD WILL COME, AND ALL HIS HOLY ONES WITH HIM;
AND ON THAT DAY THERE WILL BE A GREAT LIGHT.
(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)
Advent is a season for conversion, as someone reminded me the other day. It is a season of repentance too, as John the Baptist has reminded us more than once. The openness for conversion and repentance is there for the taking, throughout each day, like the son who changed his mind in today's Gospel passage (Mt 21:29), and over the course of our lives. Remember too that the Lord is patient, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Pt 3:9). Another way to put it is through the words of French Dominican Blessed John-Joseph Lataste (1832-1869): "When God loves us and gives us His grace, He does not ask us what we have been; He is only concerned with what we are-not with how far we have fallen, but with how much we love. He judges us only on the strength of our love. Happy are those whose past urges them on to a greater love" (quoted in Magnificat, December 2020, "Credible Witnesses", p. 153)
JOSEPH, MOST STRONG,
PRAY FOR US.
© Gertrude Feick 2020
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