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 Psalm PS 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.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The day of the Lord is near:
Behold, he comes to save us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The day of the Lord is near:
Behold, he comes to save us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 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: God
carries us 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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December 9, 2014
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 9, 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 his gospel, Matthew dealt with relationships among the members of the Christian community. The Christian leader was responsible for watching over 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.
Optional Memorial of Juan Diego,
Cuauhtlatoatzin
Juan Cuauhtlatoatzin was born an impoverished free-man. A religious man, he became an adult convert to Christianity around age 50, receiving the Christian name of Juan Diego. Juan was a visionary to whom the Virgin Mary first appeared at Tepeyac Hill on December 9, 1531. She revealed herself as the ever-virgin Mother of God and instructed him to request the bishop to erect a chapel in her honor. After failing his mission, Juan agreed to repeat his request. When the bishop asked for a sign, the virgin told Juan to climb the hill and collect flowers growing there. Placing the flowers in his "tilma" (a mantle made with fibers from the maguey cactus), he returned to the bishop. When Juan opened his mantle, the flowers poured to the floor, and the bishop saw the imprint of the Virgin, which he immediately venerated. After the apparition, Juan lived out his life as a hermit, telling all who came to him of the wonderful vision, known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. On 20 December 2001 a second miracle attributed to Juan Diego's intervention was approved by Pope John Paul II who canonized him on July 31, 2002 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico. The most famous phrase of the Guadalupan event are inscribed over the main entrance to the Basilica: "No estoy yo aqui que soy tu madre?" (Am I not here, I who am your mother?).
"Listen, put it in your heart my dearest son, that the things that frighten you, the things that afflict you, are nothing. Do not let your countenance, your heart be disturbed. Do not fear sickness nor any hurtful thing. Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shade and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, here in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything more?" Our Lady to Juan Diego, 9 December 1531
Tuesday 9 December 2014
St Juan Diego
Cuauhtlatoatzin. Isaiah 40:1-11. The Lord our God comes in strength—Ps
95(96):1-3, 10-13. Matthew 18:12-14.
The image of God as
shepherd is simple and yet profound.
Only the one who loves
deeply will do whatever it takes to provide safety and security. God’s love for
us is so great that every single one of us matters, whether we feel we are
great or small. This is cause for rejoicing!
At this busy time of year,
it is good to stop for a moment and to imagine ourselves physically gathered up
into the loving, sheltering arms of God, holding us close and carrying us to
safety. Do we allow ourselves to feel the physicality of God? Are we aware that
God is constantly watching us, ready to bring us back into the fold if we stray
too far? Do we allow ourselves to nuzzle into the warmth of God’s embrace and
delight in being home?
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Jesus Feeds Us
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Oh Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, I believe that you are
truly present, Body and Blood, soul and divinity, in the Blessed Sacrament.
Where my faith is weak, give me the gift of greater faith. Because I believe in
your true presence, I bow before you and worship you.
December
9
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 on December 12. After the
roses gathered in his tilma were transformed into the miraculous image of Our
Lady, 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, Pope 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” (St. 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” (St. John Paul II, canonization homily).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 18,12-14
Lectio:
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
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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