Daily Gospel Reflection
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December 13, 2024
Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Lucy. A victim of the Diocletian persecution in 4th century Rome, she committed her life to Christ’s service at an early age, despite the arranged marriage orchestrated by her mother. After times of prayer led to Lucy’s mother being cured of a disease, Lucy convinced her mother to call off the marriage and give the dowry to the poor.
In response, the bridegroom reported Lucy to the Roman authorities, who sentenced her to defilement in a brothel if she didn’t burn sacrifices to the emperor. When she refused, soldiers arrived to take her away, but Lucy was miraculously unmovable, even to a team of oxen! They then tried to burn her where she stood, but the fire wouldn’t light. Finally, soldiers pulled their swords and pierced Lucy’s neck, killing her.
Lucy refused to dance on society’s terms. Instead, she danced to the tune of today’s gospel—siding with the poor, with Christ, in a way that was out of rhythm with the authorities of her time. Because of this, we celebrate her today, proving her wisdom is indeed vindicated by her works.
In our lives, how often are we encouraged to move to the beat of the world, to give in to the superficial opinions of a polarized culture that alienates or demonizes the other? A culture that Pope Francis calls a throwaway culture of radical individualism and consumerism. Christ, in eating and drinking with sinners, calls us towards the margins, to those often viewed as “out of tune” with society’s song. May the witness of St. Lucy’s unapologetic gospel dancing inspire us this Advent as we begin to hear the crescendo of the heavenly Christmas tune in eager anticipation. May we be encouraged to strive to dance like Christ, working for justice and peace, commencing the heavenly banquet here on earth.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
Prayer
Help us, Lord Jesus, to sing to the flute of your word and mourn to your dirge over the sin that interferes with us hearing, understanding and being transformed by that word. Break those chains of mind and will that we use to excuse ourselves from responding to you. In your name, Lord, we make this prayer. Amen.
Saint of the Day
There is little information that can be historically verified about St. Lucy’s life, but the fact that she was a well-known and honored saint in the early Church cannot be denied. Lucy continues to remain among the most revered martyrs—she is one of the few saints invoked in the Eucharistic prayer at Mass.
Tradition tells us that Lucy was born to wealthy parents in Sicily, Italy. As a young girl, Lucy converted to Christianity and consecrated herself, pledging to remain a virgin. She kept her conversion a secret from her parents, who, in the meantime, promised Lucy in marriage to a young man who was a pagan.
Lucy refused outright to marry the young man, citing her vow of virginity. Stung and rejected, her betrothed denounced Lucy as a Christian in front of the governor of their province. Emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians was at its height, and Lucy was brought to trial, around the year 304 AD.
There are many legends regarding Lucy's possible martyrdom. One tells the story of a judge condemning Lucy to a brothel. But when anyone tried to touch her, they were unable to reach or move her. A variation on this story says that Lucy was so "filled with the Holy Spirit" she became like a mountain, and not even a team of oxen could move her. Another account says that soldiers tried to burn her, but Lucy remained unscorched by the flames. Finally, accounts claim that Lucy was killed by the sword: either beheaded or stabbed through the eyes.
Lucy's eyes have taken on a large role in her legend. Some stories recount Lucy’s eyes being gouged out by part of her torture; some claim that she herself plucked them out before she was even brought to trial, in order to ward off her suitor. Her eyes were restored to her, however, and she was even more beautiful than before. Lucy's name comes from the Latin for "light," and as light is received ocularly, eyes are a natural symbol for this saint. Lucy is the patron of those who are blind or who suffer from diseases of the eye.
On the old Gregorian calendar, December 13 was the Winter Solstice. Thus, this feast day of Lucy's martyrdom was celebrated on the darkest day of the year. St. Lucy became a symbol of the light of Christ that breaks through the darkness. In Scandinavian countries, where winter was particularly dark, St. Lucy or "St. Lucia's" day became a great celebration. King Canute of Norway declared that St. Lucy's feast day on December 13 would become the beginning of the Christmas celebration.
Some relics of St. Lucy rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus, and Lucy is also depicted in one of the murals on the Basilica's walls, holding her eyes on a plate.
St. Lucy, brave intercessor for those in need of physical and spiritual light—pray for us!