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Home Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. Dec 15, 2009 - Tuesday Meditation (Let's Walk our Talk :))
Dec 15, 2009 - Tuesday Meditation (Let's Walk our Talk :)) PDF Print E-mail
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Sections - The Daily B.R.E.A.D.
Written by Bobot Apit   
Friday, 11 December 2009 16:57

 

H as the human predicament really changed that much? It seems to me that the history of the human race is one of not listening to God, seeking for answers to the problems that inevitably come, with a few responding to God’s loving call to listen to him, do his will, and experience the joy and peace he created for us in the beginning. Jesus then makes it clear that it is not always the religious folks who respond to God’s call. He likens us religious folks to a son who says one thing to his Father but then does something else while those who say openly that they reject the Father’s teachings actually come around and do what the Father wants.

 

Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

 

Zephariah 3:1-2, 9-13

 

Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23

 

M atthew 21:28-32 "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.' (29) And he answered, `I will not'; but afterward he repented and went. (30) And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir,' but did not go. (31) Which 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 harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (32) For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him. 

 

Meditation by George Butterfield (Creighton)

 

T he first reading is from a little known Old Testament prophet, Zephaniah. He appears to have been a contemporary of Jeremiah in the seventh/sixth century before Christ. The Book of Zephaniah has only three chapters and today’s text is one of only two that make it into the Lectionary. The other text, Zephaniah 3:14-18a, is a call for the people to rejoice. We hear it read on the Third Sunday of Advent, as well as on the Monday of the Fourth week of Advent, and on the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Our text is read only today, and, after reading it, I wonder how the people might respond to the other text that invites them to “Shout for joy, O Daughter Zion!” Israel is rebellious and polluted. She does not listen to God. She refuses to be corrected. She trusts in herself and does not call upon God. Yet the Lord makes her some mighty promises. She will be changed and purified. She will become humble and lowly. She will not be ashamed of her words or her deeds. God promises to protect her and holds out for her a future of peace. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that God’s future reign includes not only a remnant from within Israel but also those from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and as far as the recesses of the North. All who listen to God are welcome.

 

If the first reading is about a people who refuse to listen to God, the responsorial psalm is about a God who will not refuse to listen to his people, especially the poor. God hears and saves those in distress. He not only rescues them but confronts their oppressors. Those who gaze upon the Lord will become radiant with joy. To God belong blessing, praise, and glory for the Lord hears the cry of the poor.

 

Has the human predicament really changed that much? It seems to me that the history of the human race is one of not listening to God, seeking for answers to the problems that inevitably come, with a few responding to God’s loving call to listen to him, do his will, and experience the joy and peace he created for us in the beginning. Jesus then makes it clear that it is not always the religious folks who respond to God’s call. He likens us religious folks to a son who says one thing to his Father but then does something else while those who say openly that they reject the Father’s teachings actually come around and do what the Father wants. I had friends in college who were referred to as “Bible thumpers.” They were the ones who carried around a Bible and were not slow to tell everyone what they should do to please God. There is certainly nothing wrong with carrying a Bible or even announcing the word of God but some of these folks created an atmosphere of resistance because they talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. On the other hand, I once visited a friend in his dorm room only to see his roommate reading an issue of Playboy Magazine. Later my friend told me that his roommate always read his Bible inside of an issue of Playboy because he didn’t want anyone to think he was one of those “Bible thumpers.”

 

My friend’s roommate need not have worried. God knows the children who love him. It’s not the ones who say “Yes, Yes” and never enter the vineyard. It’s those who, despite their protestations, do his will.

 

Supplementary Reading

 

THE WAy of PEACE

 

Then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the Kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High. – Daniel 7:27

 

 

T he movie “The Mission” will forever be the reason why I consciously choose the way of non-violence. The highly poetic rendition of how Fr. Rodrigo Mendoza (played by Jeremy Irons) and Guarani Indians peacefully tried to defend their land at the cost of their lives moved me so much that I resolved at age 15 to follow their example.

 

But sometimes, when I look around me, it’s not so easy to believe peace will win out in the end. Besides my makibaka tendency and passionate nature that war with my conviction, I see how the way of peace is often trampled upon. I sometimes feel that those who choose peace are just cowards rather than people of strong conviction.

 

But when I take time to keep quiet and listen to God, I have to admit that peace is always the right way. It’s not necessarily the easy way, both as a means and as an end, but it is the right way.

 

One day, peace will win out. It might not be tomorrow or even the next year, but it will. And however little my efforts toward its advancement will be, it will be worth my rewards in eternity. --- Joy Sosoban

 
REFLECTION:

 

What are you doing to preserve the peace in your family, your classroom or workplace, and in your social circles?

 

O Lord, You are the Prince of Peace. Let me follow You.

  

For meditation/readings of the previous days/months , please click any of the following links:
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://butuanglobalforum.org/cgi-bin/dboard/YaBB.pl?num=1229339492/220


 
Daily Mass and Gospel Meditation Broadcast (Tagalog) thru DWXI (5am Phil Time), pls click this link:  http://www.eradioportal.com/index.php?p=2&aid=1&sid=62#STS=g1jais7y.zk6

GOD BLESS US ALL!
O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
 

 

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