Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Lectionary: 182
Lectionary: 182
Comfort,
give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
The rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
A voice says, “Cry out!”
I answer, “What shall I cry out?”
“All flesh is grass,
and all their glory like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower wilts,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.
So then, the people is the grass.
Though the grass withers and the flower wilts,
the word of our God stands forever.”
Go up onto a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
Cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
Here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
The rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
A voice says, “Cry out!”
I answer, “What shall I cry out?”
“All flesh is grass,
and all their glory like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower wilts,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.
So then, the people is the grass.
Though the grass withers and the flower wilts,
the word of our God stands forever.”
Go up onto a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
Cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
Here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 96:1-2,
3 AND 10AC, 11-12, 13
R.
(see Isaiah 40:10ab) The Lord our God comes with power.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
GospelMT 18:12-14
Jesus
said to his disciples:
“What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost.”
“What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost.”
Meditation: "Like a shepherd he will carry them in his
bosom"
Do
you know what it's like to lose your bearings and to be hopelessly adrift in a
sea of uncertainty? To be alone, lost, and disoriented without a
sense of direction is one of the worst fears we can encounter. What we would
give to have a guide who would show us the way to safety and security, the way
to home and family. Scripture comforts us with the assurance that God will not
rest until we find our way home to him. The scriptures use the image of a
shepherd who cares for his sheep to describe what God is like. God promised
that he would personally shepherd his people and lead them to safety (Isaiah
40:11). That is why God sent his only begotten son as the Messiah King who would
not only restore peace and righteousness to the land, but who would also
shepherd and care for his people with love and compassion. Jesus describes
himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11).
What
can we learn from the lesson of Jesus' parable about a lost sheep? This parable
gives us a glimpse of the heart of a true shepherd, and the joy of a community
reunited with its lost members. Shepherds not only had to watch over their
sheep by day and by night; they also had to protect them from wolves and lions
who preyed upon them, and from dangerous terrain and storms. Shepherds often
had large flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds or thousands. It
was common to inspect and count the sheep at the end of the day. You can imagine
the surprise and grief of the shepherd who discovers that one of his sheep is
missing! Does he wait until the next day to go looking for it? Or does he ask a
neighboring shepherd if he might have seen the stray sheep? No, he goes
immediately in search of this lost sheep. Delay for even one night could mean
disaster leading to death. Sheep by nature are very social creatures. An
isolated sheep can quickly become bewildered, disoriented, and even neurotic.
Easy prey for wolves and lions!
The
shepherd's grief and anxiety is turned to joy when he finds the lost sheep and
restores it to the fold. The shepherd searches until what he has lost is
found. His persistence pays off. What was new in Jesus' teaching was the
insistence that sinners must be sought out time and time again. How easy
to forget and be distracted with other matters while the lost become prey for
devouring wolves of the soul. The Apostle Peter reminds us that the "devil
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour" (1 Peter
5:8). God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that we be saved
and restored to friendship with him. That is why the whole community of heaven
rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship with God. God is
on a rescue mission today to save us from the destructive forces of sin and
evil. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, watches over every step we take. Do you listen
to his voice and heed his wise counsel? Do you follow the path he has set for
you – a path that leads to life rather than death?
"Lord
Jesus, nothing escapes your watchful gaze and care. May I always walk in the
light of your truth and never stray from your loving presence."
 There’s No Shepherd like the Good Shepherd |
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Tuesday of the
Second Week of Advent
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Matthew 18:12-14
Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your
opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he
not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if
he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the
ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of
your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
Introductory Prayer: Dear Jesus, my Lord and God, I open my heart
to your infinite love. I wish to listen and respond to the inspirations that
you wish to give me this morning. I believe in you. I hope in you. I love
you. Lord, you are my shepherd and the true meaning of my life.
Petition: Jesus, Good Shepherd, give me the grace to
open my heart to your mercy.
1. Not All Shepherds Are the Same: In today’s society, the image of the
shepherd doesn’t say as much as it did in Jesus’ time. Psalm 23 was probably
one of Christ’s favorite psalms, for he uses the image of the shepherd
frequently: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” Sheep
have a trusting relationship with their shepherd. Instinctively they know
that the shepherd will care for them. Christ is our shepherd who loves us. In
our lives, other people or material possessions can seem to promise to bring
us happiness, causing us to follow after them as if they were our shepherd.
But when the real trial comes, they abandon us just as a hired hand leaves
the sheep when the wolf appears. Let us renew our commitment to Christ, the
Good Shepherd, since he is the true shepherd of our souls.
2. Searching Out the Lost Sheep: In every group of animals there is at least
one that seems to get distracted and eventually lost. In our lives we, too,
can get distracted and stray from the security of Christ and his way. Sin is
what separates us from Christ. If we are not careful, we can be easily seduced
by the world, by the fascination of material goods or pleasures, and then
mistakenly place our security in them. Then, when we experience the emptiness
and spiritual hunger that comes from wandering from the Good Shepherd, we
need only to recall that he is waiting for us, his wayward sheep, to carry us
back into the safety of his fold. It is comforting and heartening to know
that he longs for us to be reconciled with him, just as a shepherd goes out
in search of the lost sheep.
3. Let the Celebration Begin! Anyone who has children and has temporarily
“lost” one of them can empathize with the joy God experiences when one of us
is found once again and reunited with him. We may try to outdo him in love
and generosity, but that cannot happen. His love surpasses all our imagining.
Today, let us take a moment to talk to God about our state in life and
resolve to let him be actively present in our everyday living. Could there be
any better way to prepare for Christmas than to open the doors of our hearts?
Christ is there, knocking, asking to be allowed inside so he can heal us and
make us whole again. It’s almost shocking to discover that we can please him
simply by turning to him and letting him pick us up from where we’ve fallen
and restore us to full friendship with him. Shouldn’t we permit Our Lord that
pleasure, especially when the only cost is admitting our tremendous need for
him, confessing our sins and inviting him back into our hearts, where he
belongs?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I know my countless falls provide me
countless occasions to encounter you as the Good Shepherd, since without fail
you come to pick me up again. Instead of wallowing in a sterile self-pity at
the misery of my sinfulness, I intend to delight more in your tender mercy. I
know this trusting attitude will please you.
Resolution: Each time I fall today, I will get back up
again immediately, because I will have confidence in my Good Shepherd’s
loving mercy.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, ADVENT WEEKDAY, MATTHEW 18:12-14
(Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 96)
(Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 96)
KEY VERSE: "It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost" (v 14).
READING: In the 18th chapter of Matthew's gospel, he dealt with relationships among the members of the Christian community. The Christian leader was responsible for watching over the members of the Church, especially those who were weak in faith. The elders were obliged to seek out those who strayed from the community, and bring them back into the fold. Jesus used the analogy of a shepherd who left sheep that were safe and secure and went in search of the one that wandered away. When the stray sheep was found, the shepherd celebrated its safe return. In the same way, God rejoices when those who were lost are found. No matter how insignificant an individual may feel, each one is precious and valuable to God.
REFLECTING: What can I do to guide the "little ones" under my care?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, thank you for watching over me and keeping me from spiritual harm.
The Lord our God comes in strength
‘It is never the will of your Father that one of these little ones
be lost.’Lord, this shepherd image fascinated your early followers. It became their preferred representation of you on the walls of the catacombs. It expressed the intimacy of your personal relationship with each one of us. It spoke of your abiding presence in our lives, of the gentle care with which you watch over us. Lord, I want to be completely secure in your protection. Come and deepen my faith. Come and build up my hope. Come and inspire me with your love. And in my turn teach me to shepherd in love those you have entrusted to me.
Monday, December
09, 2013
St. Juan Diego
(1474-1548)
St. Juan Diego
(1474-1548)
Thousands of people gathered in the Basilica of Our Lady of
Guadalupe July 31, 2002, for the canonization of Juan Diego, to whom the
Blessed Mother appeared in the 16th century. Pope John Paul II celebrated the
ceremony at which the poor Indian peasant became the Church’s first saint
indigenous to the Americas.
The Holy
Father called the new saint “a simple, humble Indian” who accepted Christianity
without giving up his identity as an Indian. “In praising the Indian Juan
Diego, I want to express to all of you the closeness of the church and the
pope, embracing you with love and encouraging you to overcome with hope the
difficult times you are going through,” John Paul said. Among the thousands
present for the event were members of Mexico’s 64 indigenous groups.
First
called Cuauhtlatohuac (“The eagle who speaks”), Juan Diego’s name is forever
linked with Our Lady of Guadalupe because it was to him that she first appeared
at Tepeyac hill on December 9, 1531. The most famous part of his story is told
in connection with the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12). After the
roses gathered in his tilma were transformed into the miraculous image of Our
Lady of Guadalupe, however, little more is said about Juan Diego.
In time
he lived near the shrine constructed at Tepeyac, revered as a holy, unselfish
and compassionate catechist who taught by word and especially by example.
During
his 1990 pastoral visit to Mexico, Blessed John Paul II confirmed the
long-standing liturgical cult in honor of Juan Diego, beatifying him. Twelve
years later he was proclaimed a saint.
Comment:
God counted on Juan Diego to play a humble yet huge role in bringing the Good News to the peoples of Mexico. Overcoming his own fear and the doubts of Bishop Juan de Zumarraga, Juan Diego cooperated with God’s grace in showing his people that the Good News of Jesus is for everyone. Pope John Paul II used the occasion of this beatification to urge Mexican lay men and women to assume their responsibilities for passing on the Good News and witnessing to it.
God counted on Juan Diego to play a humble yet huge role in bringing the Good News to the peoples of Mexico. Overcoming his own fear and the doubts of Bishop Juan de Zumarraga, Juan Diego cooperated with God’s grace in showing his people that the Good News of Jesus is for everyone. Pope John Paul II used the occasion of this beatification to urge Mexican lay men and women to assume their responsibilities for passing on the Good News and witnessing to it.
Quote:
“In accepting the Christian message without forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound truth of the new humanity, in which all are called to be children of God. Thus he facilitated the fruit meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for the new Mexican identity, closely united to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose mestizo face expresses her spiritual motherhood which embraces all Mexicans. That is why the witness of his life must continue to be the inspiration for the building up of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its children and ever helping to reconcile Mexico with its origins, values and traditions” (Blessed John Paul II, canonization homily).
“In accepting the Christian message without forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound truth of the new humanity, in which all are called to be children of God. Thus he facilitated the fruit meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for the new Mexican identity, closely united to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose mestizo face expresses her spiritual motherhood which embraces all Mexicans. That is why the witness of his life must continue to be the inspiration for the building up of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its children and ever helping to reconcile Mexico with its origins, values and traditions” (Blessed John Paul II, canonization homily).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 18,12-14
Lectio:
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
2nd Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
you are near to us
in Jesus Christ your Son.
When we go astray,
you look for us until you find us.
Bring us back to you,
show us the way to you
and to one another
through him who is our way,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 18, 12-14
'Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray?
In truth I tell you, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all.
Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
3) Reflection
• A parable is not a teaching to be received in a passive way or just to keep in the memory, rather it is an invitation to participate in the discovery of truth. Jesus begins by asking: “What do you think?” A parable is a question with a response which is not defined. The response depends on the reaction and participation of the listeners. Let us then, seek, the answer to this parable of the lost sheep.
• Jesus tells a very brief story and in a very simple way: a shepherd had 100 sheep, he lost one, and leaves the 99 on the mountain and goes to look for the lost sheep. And Jesus asks: “What do you think?” That is: “Would you do the same?” Which would have been the response of the shepherds and of the other persons who were listening to Jesus tell this story? Would they do the same thing? Which is my answer to Jesus’ question? Let us think well before answering.
• If you had 100 sheep and you lost one, what would you do? We should not forget that mountains are places which are very difficult to climb, with deep precipices, where dangerous animals live and where robbers hide. And you cannot forget that you have lost only one sheep, and therefore, you still have 99! You have lost very little. Would you abandon the other 99 on those mountains? Perhaps, would not only a person with little common sense do what the shepherd of the parable of Jesus did? Think well!
• The shepherds who heard Jesus’ story, perhaps thought and commented: “Only a shepherd without judgment would act that way!” Surely, they would have asked Jesus: “Jesus, excuse us, but who is that shepherd whom you are speaking about? To do that which he has done, is foolish!”
• Jesus answers: “This Shepherd is God, our Father, and the lost sheep is you!” In other words, the one who does this action is God moved by the great love for the little ones, for the poor, the excluded! Only a very great love is capable to do something so foolish. The love with which God loves us exceeds prudence and good human sense. The love of God commits foolish things. Thank God! If it were not like this, we would be lost!
4) Personal questions
• Place yourself in the place of the little lost sheep and enliven your faith and your hope. You are that sheep!
• Take the place of the shepherd and verify, if your love for the little ones is true.
5) Concluding Prayer
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day. (Ps 96)
Lord our God,
you are near to us
in Jesus Christ your Son.
When we go astray,
you look for us until you find us.
Bring us back to you,
show us the way to you
and to one another
through him who is our way,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 18, 12-14
'Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray?
In truth I tell you, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all.
Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
3) Reflection
• A parable is not a teaching to be received in a passive way or just to keep in the memory, rather it is an invitation to participate in the discovery of truth. Jesus begins by asking: “What do you think?” A parable is a question with a response which is not defined. The response depends on the reaction and participation of the listeners. Let us then, seek, the answer to this parable of the lost sheep.
• Jesus tells a very brief story and in a very simple way: a shepherd had 100 sheep, he lost one, and leaves the 99 on the mountain and goes to look for the lost sheep. And Jesus asks: “What do you think?” That is: “Would you do the same?” Which would have been the response of the shepherds and of the other persons who were listening to Jesus tell this story? Would they do the same thing? Which is my answer to Jesus’ question? Let us think well before answering.
• If you had 100 sheep and you lost one, what would you do? We should not forget that mountains are places which are very difficult to climb, with deep precipices, where dangerous animals live and where robbers hide. And you cannot forget that you have lost only one sheep, and therefore, you still have 99! You have lost very little. Would you abandon the other 99 on those mountains? Perhaps, would not only a person with little common sense do what the shepherd of the parable of Jesus did? Think well!
• The shepherds who heard Jesus’ story, perhaps thought and commented: “Only a shepherd without judgment would act that way!” Surely, they would have asked Jesus: “Jesus, excuse us, but who is that shepherd whom you are speaking about? To do that which he has done, is foolish!”
• Jesus answers: “This Shepherd is God, our Father, and the lost sheep is you!” In other words, the one who does this action is God moved by the great love for the little ones, for the poor, the excluded! Only a very great love is capable to do something so foolish. The love with which God loves us exceeds prudence and good human sense. The love of God commits foolish things. Thank God! If it were not like this, we would be lost!
4) Personal questions
• Place yourself in the place of the little lost sheep and enliven your faith and your hope. You are that sheep!
• Take the place of the shepherd and verify, if your love for the little ones is true.
5) Concluding Prayer
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day. (Ps 96)
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