Memorial of Saint
Lucy, virgin and martyr
(Zephaniah 3:1-2.9-13; Matthew 21:28-32)
In prison two men are serving multi-year sentences. They have been there awhile and will not
leave soon. Yet they do not seem
anxious. When asked about how they are
doing, they respond that since they have accepted their situations, they are at
peace. Today’s readings have people like
these men in mind.
The reading from Zephaniah critiques city dwellers who
sit back in comfort. These are the
people who enjoy a degree of prosperity and participate in religious
services. But their hearts are not
converted. They do not ask themselves how they might have done wrong and
therefore do not repent. Surely their
lives will end in disaster. In the
gospel Jesus speaks of two brothers. One
does wrong, recognizes his fault, and corrects it. The other brother is blind to having done wrong
when he makes a promise that he does not keep.
His life too will end in misery.
The second brother may be contrasted to St. Lucy whose
feast day is today. He was blind to what
is really import but could see. She kept
her sight on Christ even though she is said to have been blinded in the course
of her martyrdom.
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