Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent 

Choosing Sides

Zephaniah 3:1-13 denounces a society that “hears no voice, accepts no correction,” that has “not trusted in the Lord” or “drawn near to its God.” Its “officials are roaring lions,” its “judges are wolves,” its “prophets are reckless,” its “priests have profaned what is sacred.” Does this sound familiar?  

But the Responsorial Psalm gives us an “insider tip” about God: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor” (Psalm 34). There is nothing weaker than the power of this world, and nothing stronger than the prayer of the weak. God says, “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…. I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones…. I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord.” 

This is an invitation to choose sides. Do we place our trust in our righteousness, and in the obvious (and deceitful) security of wealth, military force, political power, advanced technology, and participation in what “everyone” does? Or do we turn to Jesus as Savior and say, “Teach me your ways, O Lord”? 

Those who are successful and admired, the prosperous and powerful, listen to each other. They go where the “smart money” is. But “the Lord hears the cry of the poor” because the poor listen to him. To whom do you listen? 

Matthew 21:28-32 warns us that just because we are doing all the “right” things and keeping all the rules that make us think we are “good Christians,” it doesn’t mean we really are. 

We may be so quick to say, “Yes, sir” to Church rules that we never ask if we are really living by the spirit of the rules or of the Church’s teaching — as found, for example, in Vatican II. We may assume we are the “good Catholics” because we don’t question. But sometimes the one who questions the most turns out to be the most obedient to the spirit of the law. 

If we judge our lives, not by outward conformity, but by the “fruit of the Spirit,” love, joy, peace… (Galatians 5:22-23), we may find we are more “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” than we thought (Revelation 3:17). If so, we should take courage: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” Self-knowledge is the first step to accepting Jesus as Savior. So, call your life into question by asking how what you are doing expresses the mind and heart of Jesus. Always ask why before obeying a law. (But have a good advisor ready!).  

Prayer Prompt: The reading from Zephaniah is an invitation to “choose sides.” Make a choice to place your trust in our righteousness, rather than wealth, military force, political power, advanced technology, and participation in what “everyone” does. Turn to Jesus as Savior and say, “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” Then listen for a response and make at least one concrete decision that shows trust in God.   

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings, Lectionary #188, on the USCCB website here

Fr. David M. Knight (1931-2021) was a priest of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, a prolific writer, and a highly sought after confessor, spiritual director, and retreat master. He authored more than 40 books and hundreds of articles that focus primarily on lay spirituality and life-long spiritual growth.

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“O Antiphons” 

Explanation adapted from The Roman Catholic Lectionary Website 

http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/Advent-O-Antiphons.htm

compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. 

For the Week before Christmas, from December 17 to 23, there are special Masses and Lectionary Readings that take precedence over the ordinary weekdays (but not Sundays) of Advent.  

For these seven days, during the Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours (Vespers), the Antiphons that introduce the reciting or singing of Mary’s hymn, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), all begin by addressing Jesus by a special title preceded by the exclamation “O.” They are called the “O Antiphons.” Each Antiphon calls on the Messiah to come, beginning with a biblical title and closing with a specific petition. 

These seven traditional “O Antiphons” are more than a thousand years old. Since the Second Vatican Council, they have been adapted (slightly reworded and rearranged) for the “Alleluia Verse” of the Mass: 

For the next 7 days leading up to Christmas Eve, not including the Fourth Sunday of Advent, our reflections on this website will be reflections on these “O Antiphons”:  

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge! 

O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power! 

O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay! 

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness! 

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death! 

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save us, whom you formed from the dust! 

O Emmanuel, our King, and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!