December 13, 2021

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

Lectionary: 187

Reading I

Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a

When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe,
    the spirit of God came upon him,
    and he gave voice to his oracle:

    The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
        the utterance of a man whose eye is true,
    The utterance of one who hears what God says,
        and knows what the Most High knows,
    Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
        enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
    How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;
        your encampments, O Israel!
    They are like gardens beside a stream,
        like the cedars planted by the LORD.
    His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,
        he shall have the sea within reach;
    His king shall rise higher,
        and his royalty shall be exalted.

Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle:

    The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
        the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
    The utterance of one who hears what God says,
        and knows what the Most High knows,
    Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
        enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.
    I see him, though not now;
        I behold him, though not near:
    A star shall advance from Jacob,
        and a staff shall rise from Israel.

Responsorial Psalm

25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

1.  (4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
   Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
       teach me your paths,
   Guide me in your truth and teach me,
       for you are God my savior.
   R.    Teach me your ways, O Lord.
   Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
       and your kindness are from of old.
   In your kindness remember me,
       because of your goodness, O LORD.
   R.   Teach me your ways, O Lord.
   Good and upright is the LORD;
       thus he shows sinners the way.
   He guides the humble to justice,
       he teaches the humble his way.
   R.    Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Alleluia

Ps 85:8

1. Alleluia, alleluia.
   Show us, LORD, your love,
   and grant us your salvation.
   R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 21:23-27

When Jesus had come into the temple area,
the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him
as he was teaching and said,
“By what authority are you doing these things? 
And who gave you this authority?” 
Jesus said to them in reply,
“I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. 
Where was John’s baptism from?
Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” 
They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 
But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd,
for they all regard John as a prophet.” 
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” 
He himself said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Reflection: INTRINSIC WORTH OF A PERSON

The teaching ministry of Jesus and the miracles that accompanied it were able to attract many people, especially the poor and the downtrodden. Jesus was good news to them. This has created an imbalance in the position that the chief priests, elders and the Pharisees enjoyed. So they question Jesus about his authority. Did he belong to the priestly tribe of Levi? They say that we can never wake up a person pretending to sleep. The chief priests and elders were unwilling to see and acknowledge Jesus and his works. To do good and to save lives, one does not need anyone's approval. Jesus is God, full of goodness, love and compassion. He is sharing what He has and what He is. How often do we fail to recognize the worth of persons living around us?