December 14
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church
First Reading
1 Corinthians 2:1-10a
When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written:
What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,
this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 37:3-4, 5-6, 30-31
R. (30a) The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's request.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
The mouth of the just tells of wisdom
and his tongue utters what is right.
The law of his God is in his heart,
and his steps do not falter.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Alleluia
Matthew 5:3
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 14:25-33
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."
Give a Mass Offering
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
“The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.”
Readings & Reflection
Our entrance antiphon today is taken from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians which reads, “May I never boast except in the cross of our lord Jesus Christ through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” It seems different to speak about the cross during Advent when we are thinking about the birth of Christ. When we look at the seasons of Advent and Lent, they are book ends to the life of Christ.
Today, we celebrate the feast of St John of the Cross who devoted himself to the teachings of Christ and always imitated Him. Do we imitate Christ in our daily lives? Are we Christ for those around us? Are we taking up our cross daily? As we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ, we should be looking at our own lives to make sure that we are trying our best to imitate Him and take up our cross daily. How are you being called to follow Christ and to be Christ for those around you?
Fr Matt Rawson
Read the story of John of the Cross
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