Memorial of Saint Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem (+387). Prayer for Jerusalem and for peace in the Holy Land.

Reading of the Word of God

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.
The child you shall bear will be holy.

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

Isaiah 1,10.16-20

Hear what Yahweh says, you rulers of Sodom; listen to what our God teaches, you people of Gomorrah. wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Cease doing evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, discipline the violent, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow. 'Come, let us talk this over,' says Yahweh. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing to obey, you shall eat the good things of the earth. But if you refuse and rebel, the sword shall eat you instead -- for Yahweh's mouth has spoken.'

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.

Praise to you, o Lord, King of eternal glory

Evoking the city of Gomorrah, the prophet recalls the imminence of God's judgment also on the people of Jerusalem. He warned everyone sternly: "Hear the word of the Lord... Listen to the teaching of our God!" (v. 10). The Lord does not turn to his people with generic exhortative words. He does not perceive the relationship with them as something irenic or coldly ritualistic. Many times in Scriptures, the Lord makes it clear that he does not love ritualistic worship, detached from the pursuit of justice and love for the poor. The prophet does not fail to remind all God's thoughts: "Remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes" (v. 16). And he adds: "Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow" (v. 17). This is the way to truly worship God. There can be no division between the liturgical worship on the altar and the worship of being close to the poor. The two forms of worship are inseparable, impossible to divide. And those who practice them enter into the horizon of that infinite mercy that saves us from any sin. In fact, the Lord says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool" (v. 18). It is the victory of God's love over every sin, as long as we let him embrace us, as long as we let him love and teach us: "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land (v.19).