December 15, 2020

Reading

Book of the Prophet Zephaniah  3:1 – 2, 9 – 13

3:1Woe to the provocatrix and the redeemed city, the dove.
3:2She has not heeded the voice, nor has she accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she did not draw near to her God.
3:9For then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, so that all may invoke the name of the Lord and may serve him with one shoulder.
3:10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my supplicants, the sons of my diaspora, will carry a gift to me.
3:11In that day, you will not be ashamed over all of your inventions, by which you have transgressed against me. For then I will take away from your midst your arrogant boasters, and you will no longer be exalted on my holy mountain.
3:12And I will bequeath into your midst a poor and needy people, and they will hope in the name of the Lord.
3:13The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. For they will pasture and will recline, and there will be no one to strike them with terror.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Matthew  21:28 – 32

21:28But how does it seem to you? A certain man had two sons. And approaching the first, he said: ‘Son, go out today to work in my vineyard.’
21:29And responding, he said, ‘I am not willing.’ But afterwards, being moved by repentance, he went.
21:30And approaching the other, he spoke similarly. And answering, he said, ‘I am going, lord.’ And he did not go.
21:31Which of the two did the will of the father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them: “Amen I say to you, that tax collectors and prostitutes shall precede you, into the kingdom of God.
21:32For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. Yet even after seeing this, you did not repent, so as to believe him.