Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a
When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him, and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of a man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled: How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the LORD. His wells shall yield free-flowing waters, he shall have the sea within reach; His king shall rise higher, and his royalty shall be exalted. Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled. I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 (R. 4)
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.R.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.R.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.R.
Gospel – Mt 21:23-27
When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Featured Saints
Blessed Maria Victoria Fornari Strata, widow (†1617). A model of prayer and obedience from her youth. After her husband’s death, she founded the Order of the Celestial Annonciades in Genoa, Italy, to honour the Blessed Virgin in the mystery of the Annunciation.
St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli, widow (†1651). Daughter of the Doge of Genoa, Italy, she founded and directed the Work of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge of Mount Calvary, to help those in need. Her motto was: Serve God in the poor.
St. Valerian, bishop and martyr († fifth century). Bishop of Abbenza (present-day Africa) who at the age of eighty, was attacked by Arian Vandals and left in the streets to die of exposure when he refused to submit to their demands.
St. Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa, virgin (†1855). Founded the Institute of the Handmaids of Charity in Brescia, Italy.
Blessed Marino, abbot (†1170). Promoted the splendour of the Liturgy in the Benedictine Abbey of Cava de’ Tirreni, Italy, and demonstrated admirable fidelity to the Pope.
Blessed Charles Steeb, priest (†1856). Born in Germany to a Lutheran family, he converted and was ordained a priest. He founded the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona, Italy.
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