December 15
Tuesday, week 3 of Advent
Today is a weekday of Advent, a special time in the Catholic liturgical calendar dedicated to expectant waiting and preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. Known as 'ferial days' or simply 'Advent weekdays', these days are marked not by the commemoration of any particular saint or specific feast, but by a focus on prayer, scripture, and spiritual readiness for Christmas. The third week of Advent, in which this day falls, begins to shift the focus from penitence to joyful anticipation as the celebration of the Lord’s Nativity approaches. The readings and prayers of the liturgy emphasize themes of hope, conversion, and the fulfillment of God’s promises, encouraging the faithful to prepare their hearts for Christ’s coming, both at Christmas and at the end of time. The use of the color violet symbolizes penance, humility, and expectation. On these ferial days, Catholics are invited to deepen their relationships with God through attentive reflection on the Advent scriptures, almsgiving, and acts of charity. The Church’s observance of these days helps to sustain a spirit of longing and joyful preparation, guiding the community to celebrate the mystery of Christ’s incarnation in a more profound way.
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Questions about Tuesday, week 3 of Advent (Novus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingSo 3, 1-2.9-13
Thus speaks the Lord:
Woe to the rebellious, the impure,
Jerusalem, the tyrannical city!
She has not listened to the call,
she has not accepted the lesson,
she has not placed her trust in the Lord,
she did not approach her God.
Then I will purify the lips of the peoples
so that all may invoke the name of the Lord
and, as one, serve him.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
those who worship me, my scattered children,
will bring me my offering.
On that day, you will no longer need to be ashamed
of your misdeeds, of your crimes against me,
for then I will remove from among you
those who boast insolently,
you will no longer strut about
upon my holy mountain.
I will leave among you a people humble and lowly;
they will take shelter in the name of the Lord.
This remnant of Israel will commit injustice no longer;
they will not speak lies anymore;
in their mouths, no more deceitful language.
But they will be able to graze and rest,
no one will come to frighten them.
– The word of the Lord.
Psalm33 (34), 2-3, 6-7, 16-18, 19.23
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord:
let the poor hear and rejoice!
Those who look to him will shine,
with no shadow or shame upon their face.
A poor one cries out; the Lord hears:
he saves him from all his distress.
The Lord watches over the righteous,
he is attentive to their cries.
The Lord hears those who call to him:
from all their distress, he delivers them.
He is close to the brokenhearted;
he saves those whose spirit is crushed.
The Lord will ransom his servants:
no punishment for those who take refuge in him.
GospelMt 21, 28-32
At that time,
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders:
"What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He went to the first and said to him:
‘My child, go work today in the vineyard.’
He replied, ‘I do not want to.’
But afterwards, having changed his mind, he went.
Then the father went to the second
and said the same thing to him.
He replied, ‘Yes, sir!’
but he did not go.
Which of the two did the will of the father?"
They answered him:
"The first."
Jesus said to them:
"Truly I tell you,
the tax collectors and the prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
For John the Baptist came to you in a way of righteousness,
and you did not believe his word;
but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him.
Whereas you, even after seeing this,
did not even repent afterwards
to believe his word."
– Let us acclaim the word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org