Advent Readings for December 16th

Today, we are invited to reflect on our magnanimity, do we love all and condemn none?

Zephaniah 3: 1-2, 9-13

¹ Woe, soiled, defiled,

    oppressing city!

² It has listened to no voice;

    it has accepted no correction.

It has not trusted in the Lord;

    it has not drawn near to its God.

⁹ At that time I will change the speech of the peoples

    to a pure speech,

that all of them may call on the name of the Lord

    and serve him with one accord.

¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Cush

    my suppliants, my scattered ones,

    shall bring my offering.

¹¹ On that day you shall not be put to shame

    because of all 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.

¹² For I will leave in the midst of you

    a people humble and lowly.

They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord—

¹³     the remnant of Israel;

they shall do no wrong

    and utter no lies,

nor shall a deceitful tongue

    be found in their mouths.

Then they will pasture and lie down,

    and no one shall make them afraid.

Matthew 21:28-32

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸ “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For 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 after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.