Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Lucy (13th December, 2016) on the Gospel and the Memorial
Zeph 3:1-2.9-13;
Ps 33:2-3.6-7.16.18-19.23. (R. v.7);Matt 21:28-32.
Lucy’s history has been lost and all we really know
for certain is that this brave woman lived in Syracuse and lost her life during
the persecution of Christians in the early fourth century. Lucy can mean
‘light’ or ‘lucid.’ A legend that has passed the test of time tells the story
of a young Christian woman who vowed to live her life in service of Christ. Her
mother tried to arrange a marriage for her with a pagan. After her mother’s
miraculous healing, she persuaded her mother to give the dowry money to the
poor and allow her to commit her life to God. In anger, the rejected bridegroom
was deeply angered and betrayed Lucy's faith to the governor Paschasius. The
governor tried unsuccessfully to defile her at a brothel. Lucy was not burnt
when she was set ablaze. She was finally killed by the swords. Lucy is the
patron saint of the blind.[1]
Topic: Think Better.
Today’s gospel started from where that of yesterday stopped.
Jesus used a parable of a man who had two sons to teach the chief priests and
the elders of the people. The man in question went to the first and asked him
to work in the vineyard but he replied: “‘I will not’; but later he changed his
mind [thought better of it] and went”. The man made the same request of the
second son who hardly allowed him to finish before the reply: “‘I go, sir’; but
he did not go” even till date. Both the chief priests and the elders of the
people rightly answered that it was the first who did his father’s will.
Jesus went on to tell them that the tax collectors and the
prostitutes are making heaven ahead of them because John the Baptist came the
chief priests and the elders of the people did not believe in him but the tax
collectors and the prostitutes did. And to worsen the situation, the chief
priests and the elders of the people never thought better and believed.
That you or I have said something or decided on something
does not mean that you or I have gotten to the best. Nothing is better than the
best. Lucy we celebrate today decided on following Jesus and never allowed anything
to distract her. She also brought her mother to Christ.
There are lots of things we have decided on. Some of them are
not just wrong but also evil. God expects us to make amends today. This can be
in the form of changing decisions, course, even asking for forgiveness for the
wrongs we have done to others, explanations, and so on.
Bible Reading: Matt 14:1-12.
Thought for today: You can always think better.
Let us pray: God, source of true wisdom, help us
to think better – Amen.
Saint Lucy – Pray for us.
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