Daily Thought For December 15, 2020

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 No Can Change To Yes


Ponder

SOMEONE ONCE LOOKED ME STRAIGHT in the eye and calmly said, “Do you realize your first response to my every question is no? Even reverse psychology doesn’t work with you!”

In the Gospel chosen for today, Jesus poses a question about two sons. One is asked to do something, says he won’t, but he thinks about it and does it. The other son says he will do it, but he doesn’t. Which one did the Father’s will?

His listeners give Jesus the right answer. Jesus then shocks us by telling us that those who apparently commit the worst sins are getting into heaven before we do. They ultimately listen to the Gospel challenges and turn themselves around. They know their need. They work with grace. We might be saying, yes, yes, Lord, but in reality do we let God-given opportunities slip away?

Mary, the wedding at Cana could so easily have been a place to let things slide. It wasn’t your job; you were a guest. When you told them to do Jesus’ bidding, what if the waiters had humored you a little, said, yes, yes, to you out of courtesy to a guest, but behind your back considered you to be an intruding busybody and then ignored you? An awful thought! They’d have missed the best wine! Mary, help my yes to be honest.

Act

  Do as Mary did! Don’t just sit there! Do something about the missing wine!

Pray

  Father, prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow.

(From the Roman Missal)

Frisk, M. J. (2005). Joyous Expectation: Journeying through Advent with Mary (pp. 60–61). Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media.

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