Saints + Scripture: Adventus

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent: Advent-link & Wikipedia-link.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.C.D. (1542-1591, A.K.A. Juan de Santa María de Yepes y Álvarez), co-founder of the Discalced Carmelites (1562, O.C.D.), formally the Order of the Discalced Carmelites of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
The Book of Zephaniah, chapter three, verses one, two, & nine thru thirteen;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. seven[a]), verses two & three, six & seven, seventeen & eighteen, & nineteen & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-one, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-two.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel is the parable of the two sons, a story about obedience to God. To live the good life is not finally a matter of autonomy but of obeying commandments.

The obedience that Jesus desires is a surrender to the one who wants what is best for the surrenderer. The entire to-be of the Son is a listening to the command of the Father, and the creature, consequently, is meant to be nothing but a listening to the command of the Son.

This is why Jesus says in the Gospel of John, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer… I have called you friends” (John 15:14–15). What was lost in the Garden of Eden was friendship with God, symbolized by the easy fellowship enjoyed by Adam and Yahweh.

The whole of the biblical revelation—culminating in Jesus—could be construed as the story of God’s attempt to restore friendship with the human race. In the Last Supper discourse we hear the conditions for this restoration: coinherence with God.

Reflect: Is there any limit in this life to our opportunity to repent and be forgiven by God? How does repentance facilitate coinherence, or unity, with God?

Video reflection by Deacon Arthur L. Miller (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Advent Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Advent Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. John of the Cross
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter two, verses one thru ten(a);
Psalm Thirty-seven (R/. thirty[a]), verses three & four, five & six, & thirty & thirty-one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fourteen, verses twenty-five thru thirty-three.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Open your hearts to Christ & go out to meet Him; quench your thirst at His spring. He offers a water that will satisfy your thirst for joy, for happiness, & for love."
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"It is not a sin to be rich. When it provokes avarice, it becomes a sin. Richness is given by God & it is our duty to divide it with those less favored."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Very few people believe in the devil these days, which suits the devil very well. He is always helping to circulate the news of his own death. The essence of God is existence, & He defines Himself as: 'I am Who am.' The essence of the devil is the lie, & he defines himself as: 'I am who am not.' Satan has very little trouble with those who do not believe in him; they are already on his side."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Well & good if all things change, O Lord God, provided I am rooted in You."
—Saint John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church (1542-1591, feast: 14 December)