3rd Week of the Advent - Friday
16th December 2022 (Friday) Readings and Reflection
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are on the Friday of 3rd Week of the Advent. Today's gospel reflection is on the theme God of truth!
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3a, 6-8
1. Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed. 2. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3. Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”; 6. “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant— 7. these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” 8. The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”
Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8 (R. 4)
Response: Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your salvation. Response
Let the nations be glad and shout for joy,
with uprightness you rule the peoples;
you guide the nations on earth. Response
The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing
that all the ends of the earth may revere him. Response
Gospel : John 5:33-36
At that time: Jesus said to the Jews, 33. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: God of truth!
Indicative: People need proofs. They seek evidences. But the proofs and evidences are not always indicators of doubt and skepticism. Rather they can authenticate the truth and the veracity of the matter at hand{alertSuccess}
1. God is truth and righteousness. There are no falsity and no injustice in Him. All those who believe in and follow God will also abide in truth and act righteously. Truth and righteousness are not mere attributes. They are the essentials of God, godly people, and godliness.
2. The world with all its intelligence and competence is reeling with incredulity and unproductive and harmful skepticism. The human mind in all its craving for rationality and certainty has lost “sensitivity” – intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual.
3. Thus, it is really a “culture of dialectic and conflict”. There is a constant conflict between certainty-uncertainty, truth-falsity, and veracity-distortion. In this context, Jesus indicates to us the best way to overcome these conflictual situations.
4. The solution to the conflict is “witness”. Bear witness to the truth. But, what is truth? God is truth. His life and presence, His light and guidance, His love and sustenance, His power and strengthening, His fidelity, forgiveness, and salvation are the greatest truth.
5. Therefore, we need to bear witness to these aspects of truth. This implies that we believe them, experience them and live them concretely. Thus it is not mere words or promises. It is not mere practices or traditions. It is not mere laws and precepts. It is a life example. That is why Jesus says, “the very works that I do bear witness to me.” Only this will be the authentic and effective testimony.
Imperative: Fidelity to truth implies a life of fraternity and charity, benevolence and righteousness. There is no truth without works in action{alertSuccess}
Video Reflection
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