Tuesday 13 December
Antiphon: When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
Jorge Cocco Santángelo (Argentina, 1936– ) The Parable of the Two Sons.
Nativity figure speaks
Jeanne Murray Walker
I felt it, riding through the afternoon—
the nights are getting shorter and it's cold
and then the baby shifted in my womb
and the innkeeper sent us to his sandy field.
I did what I was made to do. And now
who knows what else is possible? God's breath
moves against the soft nose of the cow.
The moon shines on this shed and on the path
where you lean, watching us. Who are you?
I am the round yon virgin of your song.
You are the sky the light is passing through,
and you are the iron moonlight. You're sweet fresh-
smelling hay. You're Bethlehem, the tall kings.
Reach out, release us from this wooden crèche.
The Christian Century 124, no. 25, 11 Dec 2007, p 8.
Saving God, who came to earth for us, we praise you for your everlasting love, your endless patience, and for the greatest gift you could possibly give to us, the possibility of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Zephaniah 3:1-13
Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city! 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.
The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning. Its prophets are reckless, faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is sacred, they have done violence to the law. The Lord within it is righteous; he does no wrong. Every morning he renders his judgement, each dawn without fail; but the unjust knows no shame.
I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without people, without inhabitants. I said, ‘Surely the city will fear me, it will accept correction; it will not lose sight of all that I have brought upon it.’ But they were the more eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
Therefore wait for me, says the Lord, for the day when I arise as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger; for in the fire of my passion all the earth shall be consumed.
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. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering.
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. For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord— 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.
Psalm 34.15-22
15. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.
16. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
18. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.
20. He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
21. Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Matthew 21:28-32
‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. 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. 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.
Wojciech Kilar (Poland, 1932-2013). Gloria in Excelsis Deo (1993). Cracow Philharmonic Chorus and Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Antoni Wit, 2005.
May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting. Amen.