St. Damasus I, pope 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus says Yahweh, your Re-deemer,

The Holy One of Israel: I, Yahweh, your God, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go.  Had you paid attention to my commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

 Your descendants would have been like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from my presence.

 

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4, & 6

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 11:16-19

 Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain:  ‘We played the flute for you but you would not dance. We sang a funeral-song but you would not cry!’

 For John came fasting and peo­ple said: ‘He is possessed.’ By a demon!’  Then the Son of Man came, he ate and drank, and people said: ‘Look at this man! A glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet, wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

God  complained: Israel is a stiff-necked people! Israel refused to be taught by the Lord. Isaiah thus speaks of the complaint of Yahweh in our first reading today.

Because Israel could not be taught, Israel had to suffer so much, eventually will be exiled and Jerusalem would be destroyed. Israel would not have a king until the son of David, Jesus, would be born.

Jesus, likewise, complains in the Gospel today. The Jews of his own time failed to see the signs of God’s presence in their midst. John the Baptist had come to announce the imminent coming of the Redeemer and he called for the people to prepare for the Day of the Lord.

But they refused to listen to John. When Jesus came searching for sinners, offering forgiveness and healing, the Jews closed their hearts. They were scandalized by the mercy of God!

Wisdom rests in the humble admission of one’s sinfulness on the one hand, and confessing and accepting God’s mercy on the other hand! Wisdom is in living in the “fear of the Lord,” – awareness of unworthiness and gratefulness for God’s mercy.