Today, 14th of December, we celebrate
Saint John of the Cross
First Reading: Ne 8:1–4a,5–6,7b–12
The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate,
and they called upon Ezra the scribe
to bring forth the book of the law of Moses
which the Lord prescribed for Israel.
On the first day of the seventh month, therefore,
Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak until midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
(for he was standing higher up than any of the people);
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
"Amen, amen!"
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the Lord,
their faces to the ground.
As the people remained in their places,
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
"Today is holy to the Lord your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep"–
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our Lord.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!"
And the Levites quieted all the people, saying,
"Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened."
Then all the people went to eat and drink,
to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy,
for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eye;
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true,
all of them just.
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Gospel Reading: Lk 10:1–12
Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.'
Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."
Turning Again to the Angels
Sometimes, when someone does us a favor, we say, “You’re an angel.” And it’s true: angels are good spirits who, in moments of need, come to the aid of those who need help. Maybe not always in the way we expect, but sometimes disguised as setbacks or difficulties—moments which, if we live them well, become times of growth and grace. There are always good spirits along the way.
There’s a well-known painting of an angel helping children cross a bridge without stumbling or falling. Angels are those who keep our feet from tripping into temptation and evil; those who rescue us from dangerous moral situations; those who warn us not to enter into easy ideas or errors that lead us away from God. They help us live the petition we make to God in the Lord’s Prayer: “Do not let us fall into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
In today’s Gospel reading, it almost seems that those angels are the children—the simplest and smallest—who must not be despised, ignored, or mistreated. And that is true. But it is also a call for us to be angels for those children: to protect them from danger, abuse, and the evil around them. And also to protect their lives: so many innocent ones who are denied the chance to live. So many children facing the horrors of war. So many suffering from hunger. So many enduring abuse. And even those other children who face the danger of a life that is too easy, spoiled, and permissive—where they are not taught the limits they need, nor shown the paths of goodness.
The good spirits—the guardian angels that we all have—remind us that we, in turn, must be guardians of others: protecting them from physical danger, yes, but also from moral dangers. And that means teaching well, proclaiming the truth, and educating with wisdom.
Carmen Fernandez Aguinaco
