Suy niệm Thứ Ba
Tuần 2 Mùa Vọng
Bài dụ ngôn trong Tin Mừng hôm nay đã cho chúng ta thấy được hai cái bài học. Trước tiên, Thiên Chúa yêu thương mọi con người lầm lạc, tội lội, hay những người đã bị gạt bỏ ra ngoài lề của xã hội chúng ta. Họ là những người rất cần được sự chú ý như những người khác. Chính Chúa Giêsu đã hy sinh chẳng màng sự nguy cơ, sự an toàn của 99 con chiên còn lại để mang 1 con chiên lạc bị mất được trở về lại an toàn với đàn chiên. Không một ai có thể hư mất trước mặt Thiên Chúa.
Thứ hai, Thiên Chúa yêu cũng thương yêu mỗi con chiên trong số 99 còn lại như chính con chiên đi lạc. Bài học này có lẽ là làm chúng ta khó có thể hiểu và chấp nhận được bởi vì 99 con chiên còn lại sẽ phải bơ vơ không người coi giữ. những con chiên này bắt buộc phải tự lo lấy cho chính bản thân trong một môi trường nguy hiểm không mấy an toàn trong khi Ngài tìm kiếm con chiên lạc.
Một số người trong chúng ta có thể tự hỏi: Đâu là tình yêu bình đẳng trong trường hơp này, Hy sinh 99 con chiên để tìm một con? Nhưng, trọng tâm của bài học thứ hai, Chúa muốn dạy chúng ta là: Sự yêu thương không chỉ chú ý tới sự có mặt, nhưng cũng còn chú ý đến sự tin tưởng. Chúa Giêsu tin tưởng những con chiên còn lại sống gắn bó với nhau và giữ vững niềm tin. Theo kinh nghiệm sống, chúng ta biết có lẽ cách tốt nhất để cảm nhận được tình yêu thuơng không phải chỉ khi chúng ta được công nhận nơi công cộng , mà còn cả khi chúng ta đã được phó thác trong niềm cậy tin.
Dụ ngôn hôm nay có thể được áp dụng với những người đã vô tình hay cố ý đi lầm đường, lạc lối, hoặc những người đã bị cám dỗ, sa ngã đã làm những điều qua khủng khiếp cho linh hồn họ phải xa lầy và lạc lối. Tất cả sẽ được đón tiếp trở lại với niềm vui như nhau, Chúng ta có thể tự hỏi chính mình: Chúng ta có đã sẵn sàng để tha thứ và tiếp nhận những người đã làm những điều sai trái chúng ta, không phải chỉ là sự miễn cưỡng nhưng luôn là sự sẵn sàng tha thứ với tình yêu chân thật và niềm vui mừng hân hoan.
Lạy Chúa, Chúa chính là vị Mục Tử Nhân Lành!, Xin dạy và thánh hóa chúng con biết trở nên giống Chúa… Biết Tha Thứ, biết Yêu thương
REFLECTION Matthew 18:12-14
In today’s Gospel, some of us may be wondering. What is the love of equality in this case; Sacrifice 99 sheep to find one that stray? The focus of
today’s Gospel passage is: God wants us to know: that love is not just about attention it is also about trust. Jesus trusted the remaining sheep to stay together and keep the faith. We know from experience, that perhaps the best way to feel love is not only to feel that we were recognized but also that we were trusted.
Advent is not about waiting for Jesus' coming to receive his love and attention. It is also realizing that Jesus has trusted us to keep the faith, spread the Word, and help our neighbor. When we have fully accepted his trust then perhaps we can say that we are truly prepared for Jesus' coming into our hearts.
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
“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.” Matthew 18:12–13
Jesus teaches us a powerful lesson using a familiar image: the shepherd who discovers one of his sheep is missing, goes on a diligent search, finds the lost sheep, and rejoices. The hard work of searching through the hills and valleys is rewarded as soon as the shepherd spots that one lost sheep in the distance. He quickly runs to it, picks it up, and carries it back to the flock. While that one sheep is not more valuable than any of the other ninety-nine, there is great joy in finding the one that was lost.
We are all that one lost sheep at various times in our lives. Sometimes we stray just around the corner, while other times we wander far from God. This image of the Good Shepherd diligently seeking out the lost sheep teaches us two essential lessons. First, when we wander away from God and fall into sin, it’s easy to forget how much the Good Shepherd loves us. We might think that God is disappointed or angry with us, but these are lies from the evil one that deter us from turning back to God. Since we will always struggle with sin in this life, we must have a clear image in our minds of the Good Shepherd’s love. We must be keenly aware of the passion, intensity, and determination with which He seeks us out. He does not sit in judgment or condemnation. Like a loving parent, His deepest desire is to find us and for us to allow Him to pick us up and carry us back to His fold.
While this image is crucial for us to consider regarding our personal sins and God’s love for us, it must also serve as a model for how we relate to others when they sin. As we grow closer to God and become more aware of His will and moral law, we might be tempted to judge others, especially within our own families. Though we must never downplay objective sin or become indifferent to the sins of others, we must also reject the role of judge and jury. Instead, we must become instruments of the Good Shepherd to those around us. With Christ, our only intention should be to go out to the lost, find them in their sin, love them despite their sin, and offer to carry them home. We must never reject a person because of his or her sin, even if the person remains obstinately attached to it.
Reflect today on the burning compassion our Lord has for you, even when you sin. Never hesitate to turn back to Him and allow Him to carry you home, rejoicing all the way. Also, reflect on those you know who have strayed from God. Perhaps they no longer attend Mass, are living in an immoral relationship, vocally support something contrary to the Gospel, or struggle with an addiction or sinful attachment. Do not judge them—love them. Be an instrument of the Heart of Jesus for them so that, through you, they may sense the love Jesus has in His Heart for them.
My most compassionate Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd Who never tires of pursuing Your straying sheep. Your deepest desire is to bring them home. When I stray, help me to remember Your burning love for me so that I will never hesitate to turn back to You. When others around me stray, please give me Your Heart, dear Lord, so that I may love them so deeply that You draw them out of their sin. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflection Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I welcome your comfort and consolation. When I stray into sin, you send your Son to find me and bring me back. When I remain in the fold, you send your Son to care for me and nourish me. Help me overcome the temptation to stray from your holy will and strengthen my resolve to remain in your grace.
1. Leave the Ninety-Nine? When Jesus tells a parable, there is usually a twist in it of some sort. For example, in one of Jesus’ parables, the sower appears to be careless as he sows seed on the path, rocky ground, and among thorns, instead of only planting it carefully in good soil. In another parable, Jesus speaks about sowing mustard seed in a garden, even though it was not really something you sowed, since it produced an invasive plant. Jesus told the story of an owner of the vineyard who was recklessly generous and paid his workers who only worked an hour way too much, and the story of a king who forgave a massive debt – 10,000 talents – just because the debtor asked for mercy. These were all twists that made the parables not only memorable but also were teachings that unveiled the mystery of God’s logic and love. The twist in today’s parable is the fact that the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep in the hills to go out and search for the one who went astray. A sensible shepherd would just count their loss and likely continue with the ninety-nine. One lost sheep in the grand scheme of things isn’t a big deal. There will be others to replace the lost sheep. And yet, this is not how God thinks. Each one of us is important and loved. In fact, God the Father loved each one of us so much that he sent his Son to seek us out, to assume our human nature, and bring us into the sheepfold of the Church.
Reflection Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent 2024
“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?” Matthew 18:12
This Gospel passage goes on to say that the man who finds that one stray sheep “rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.” At first, this might seem unfair. Why not primarily rejoice over the ninety-nine who did not stray? Saint Hillary, in commenting on this passage, interprets the man who sought out the one stray sheep as the Son of God. He left the “ninety-nine,” meaning the glory of the hosts of Heaven, to descend to earth to seek out straying humanity. Humanity as a whole is that one lost sheep. That includes us all.
The first thing this interpretation reveals to us is that the Son of God was clearly sent on a mission to seek out each and every one of us after we strayed far from the Father in Heaven. The Father did not sit back and wait for us to return. Rather, He sent the Son on a diligent mission of seeking us out to bring us back into His divine fold.
As we reflect upon this passage, it is important to see the zeal and determination of our Lord as He seeks us out. Do you see this in your own life? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that it is primarily our responsibility to seek out God. And though we certainly have this responsibility, our duty is made much easier when we understand how passionately our Lord seeks us out and desires to find us when we stray. Only in Heaven will we fully understand all that our Lord has done to seek us out, day in and day out. But for now, we must strive to understand this spiritual truth so that we will be more open to Jesus’ diligent search for us.
A second thing this passage reveals is the joy in the Heart of the Son of God every time He finds us and carries us away from our sin. Too often we can fall into the trap of seeing God as a judgmental God who is angry at us and condemning. But if we understand the extent to which the Son of God went, so as to find us when we stray, and if we can understand the joy in His heart upon finding us and carrying us away from sin, then we will more readily open ourselves to Him, to His gentle invitations, and to His merciful Heart every time He comes to us by grace.
Reflect, today, upon the great anticipation in the Heart of our Lord as He personally seeks you out. The anticipation is that of joy—the joy that He is filled with as He picks you up and gently carries you back to the Father. Allow this joy in the Heart of our Lord to come to fruition so that you will share in this abundance of joy.
My diligent Lord, You seek me out, day and night, never tiring of calling me to return more fully to Yourself. Please help me to fill Your Heart with joy by always responding to Your gentle invitations of love and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflection Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I welcome your comfort and consolation. When I have strayed and was lost through sin, you sent your Son to find me. When I have remained in the fold, you sent your Son to care for me and nourish me. Help me overcome the temptation to stray from your holy will and strengthen my resolve to remain in your grace.
1. Isaiah’s Promise of Comfort: In the First Reading, God commands Isaiah to promise comfort to his people and speak tenderly to them. The hardship of God’s people, who were sold into exile, will one day come to an end, and the spiritual debt incurred through their sins will be forgiven. A sign of the imminent arrival of this comfort and forgiveness is the appearance of the voice that cries out in the desert to prepare for God’s coming. We know, from the New Testament, that the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy about a voice in the desert is John the Baptist. He is the herald of the Good News and points the people of Judah, who gathered around him in the wilderness, to Jesus as the Lamb of God and the Mighty One. We can imagine the words of Isaiah on John’s lips: “Here is your God! Here comes with power, the Lord God!”
Reflection Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Jesus is that shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep in the hills and sets out to look for the one lost sheep. Jesus knows that the Father wills not even one be lost. God loves each and every one of us and will do anything to save us from harm. God sends his only Son Jesus to come to us to bring every one of us back to God.
Very often we are one of the ninety-nine. We are in a safe place. We put all our attention in what is achievable and do what is cost-effective. We have no time for those who fall behind. We regard them as a hindrance to progress. We want to get rid of them as if they were baggage, rather than to carry them along in a neighborly manner; we have no room for what is not in our projects. This is not Christ-like!.
Christian teachers, social workers, parents, church leaders … we can model ourselves on the Good Shepherd, looking out for those who fall behind, or we can remain up in the hills counting our blessings. But if we are complacent, we will lose track of Jesus, who is out there somewhere looking for lost sheep.
Lord Jesus, thank You for looking out for me. Don’t give up on me, Lord!
Meditation Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent: 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 someone 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."
Bài dụ ngôn trong Tin Mừng hôm nay đã cho chúng ta thấy được hai cái bài học. Trước tiên, Thiên Chúa yêu thương mọi con người lầm lạc, tội lội, hay những người đã bị gạt bỏ ra ngoài lề của xã hội chúng ta. Họ là những người rất cần được sự chú ý như những người khác. Chính Chúa Giêsu đã hy sinh chẳng màng sự nguy cơ, sự an toàn của 99 con chiên còn lại để mang 1 con chiên lạc bị mất được trở về lại an toàn với đàn chiên. Không một ai có thể hư mất trước mặt Thiên Chúa.
Thứ hai, Thiên Chúa yêu cũng thương yêu mỗi con chiên trong số 99 còn lại như chính con chiên đi lạc. Bài học này có lẽ là làm chúng ta khó có thể hiểu và chấp nhận được bởi vì 99 con chiên còn lại sẽ phải bơ vơ không người coi giữ. những con chiên này bắt buộc phải tự lo lấy cho chính bản thân trong một môi trường nguy hiểm không mấy an toàn trong khi Ngài tìm kiếm con chiên lạc.
Một số người trong chúng ta có thể tự hỏi: Đâu là tình yêu bình đẳng trong trường hơp này, Hy sinh 99 con chiên để tìm một con? Nhưng, trọng tâm của bài học thứ hai, Chúa muốn dạy chúng ta là: Sự yêu thương không chỉ chú ý tới sự có mặt, nhưng cũng còn chú ý đến sự tin tưởng. Chúa Giêsu tin tưởng những con chiên còn lại sống gắn bó với nhau và giữ vững niềm tin. Theo kinh nghiệm sống, chúng ta biết có lẽ cách tốt nhất để cảm nhận được tình yêu thuơng không phải chỉ khi chúng ta được công nhận nơi công cộng , mà còn cả khi chúng ta đã được phó thác trong niềm cậy tin.
Dụ ngôn hôm nay có thể được áp dụng với những người đã vô tình hay cố ý đi lầm đường, lạc lối, hoặc những người đã bị cám dỗ, sa ngã đã làm những điều qua khủng khiếp cho linh hồn họ phải xa lầy và lạc lối. Tất cả sẽ được đón tiếp trở lại với niềm vui như nhau, Chúng ta có thể tự hỏi chính mình: Chúng ta có đã sẵn sàng để tha thứ và tiếp nhận những người đã làm những điều sai trái chúng ta, không phải chỉ là sự miễn cưỡng nhưng luôn là sự sẵn sàng tha thứ với tình yêu chân thật và niềm vui mừng hân hoan.
Lạy Chúa, Chúa chính là vị Mục Tử Nhân Lành!, Xin dạy và thánh hóa chúng con biết trở nên giống Chúa… Biết Tha Thứ, biết Yêu thương
In today’s Gospel, some of us may be wondering. What is the love of equality in this case; Sacrifice 99 sheep to find one that stray? The focus of
today’s Gospel passage is: God wants us to know: that love is not just about attention it is also about trust. Jesus trusted the remaining sheep to stay together and keep the faith. We know from experience, that perhaps the best way to feel love is not only to feel that we were recognized but also that we were trusted.
Advent is not about waiting for Jesus' coming to receive his love and attention. It is also realizing that Jesus has trusted us to keep the faith, spread the Word, and help our neighbor. When we have fully accepted his trust then perhaps we can say that we are truly prepared for Jesus' coming into our hearts.
“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.” Matthew 18:12–13
Jesus teaches us a powerful lesson using a familiar image: the shepherd who discovers one of his sheep is missing, goes on a diligent search, finds the lost sheep, and rejoices. The hard work of searching through the hills and valleys is rewarded as soon as the shepherd spots that one lost sheep in the distance. He quickly runs to it, picks it up, and carries it back to the flock. While that one sheep is not more valuable than any of the other ninety-nine, there is great joy in finding the one that was lost.
We are all that one lost sheep at various times in our lives. Sometimes we stray just around the corner, while other times we wander far from God. This image of the Good Shepherd diligently seeking out the lost sheep teaches us two essential lessons. First, when we wander away from God and fall into sin, it’s easy to forget how much the Good Shepherd loves us. We might think that God is disappointed or angry with us, but these are lies from the evil one that deter us from turning back to God. Since we will always struggle with sin in this life, we must have a clear image in our minds of the Good Shepherd’s love. We must be keenly aware of the passion, intensity, and determination with which He seeks us out. He does not sit in judgment or condemnation. Like a loving parent, His deepest desire is to find us and for us to allow Him to pick us up and carry us back to His fold.
While this image is crucial for us to consider regarding our personal sins and God’s love for us, it must also serve as a model for how we relate to others when they sin. As we grow closer to God and become more aware of His will and moral law, we might be tempted to judge others, especially within our own families. Though we must never downplay objective sin or become indifferent to the sins of others, we must also reject the role of judge and jury. Instead, we must become instruments of the Good Shepherd to those around us. With Christ, our only intention should be to go out to the lost, find them in their sin, love them despite their sin, and offer to carry them home. We must never reject a person because of his or her sin, even if the person remains obstinately attached to it.
Reflect today on the burning compassion our Lord has for you, even when you sin. Never hesitate to turn back to Him and allow Him to carry you home, rejoicing all the way. Also, reflect on those you know who have strayed from God. Perhaps they no longer attend Mass, are living in an immoral relationship, vocally support something contrary to the Gospel, or struggle with an addiction or sinful attachment. Do not judge them—love them. Be an instrument of the Heart of Jesus for them so that, through you, they may sense the love Jesus has in His Heart for them.
My most compassionate Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd Who never tires of pursuing Your straying sheep. Your deepest desire is to bring them home. When I stray, help me to remember Your burning love for me so that I will never hesitate to turn back to You. When others around me stray, please give me Your Heart, dear Lord, so that I may love them so deeply that You draw them out of their sin. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I welcome your comfort and consolation. When I stray into sin, you send your Son to find me and bring me back. When I remain in the fold, you send your Son to care for me and nourish me. Help me overcome the temptation to stray from your holy will and strengthen my resolve to remain in your grace.
1. Leave the Ninety-Nine? When Jesus tells a parable, there is usually a twist in it of some sort. For example, in one of Jesus’ parables, the sower appears to be careless as he sows seed on the path, rocky ground, and among thorns, instead of only planting it carefully in good soil. In another parable, Jesus speaks about sowing mustard seed in a garden, even though it was not really something you sowed, since it produced an invasive plant. Jesus told the story of an owner of the vineyard who was recklessly generous and paid his workers who only worked an hour way too much, and the story of a king who forgave a massive debt – 10,000 talents – just because the debtor asked for mercy. These were all twists that made the parables not only memorable but also were teachings that unveiled the mystery of God’s logic and love. The twist in today’s parable is the fact that the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep in the hills to go out and search for the one who went astray. A sensible shepherd would just count their loss and likely continue with the ninety-nine. One lost sheep in the grand scheme of things isn’t a big deal. There will be others to replace the lost sheep. And yet, this is not how God thinks. Each one of us is important and loved. In fact, God the Father loved each one of us so much that he sent his Son to seek us out, to assume our human nature, and bring us into the sheepfold of the Church.
“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?” Matthew 18:12
This Gospel passage goes on to say that the man who finds that one stray sheep “rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.” At first, this might seem unfair. Why not primarily rejoice over the ninety-nine who did not stray? Saint Hillary, in commenting on this passage, interprets the man who sought out the one stray sheep as the Son of God. He left the “ninety-nine,” meaning the glory of the hosts of Heaven, to descend to earth to seek out straying humanity. Humanity as a whole is that one lost sheep. That includes us all.
The first thing this interpretation reveals to us is that the Son of God was clearly sent on a mission to seek out each and every one of us after we strayed far from the Father in Heaven. The Father did not sit back and wait for us to return. Rather, He sent the Son on a diligent mission of seeking us out to bring us back into His divine fold.
As we reflect upon this passage, it is important to see the zeal and determination of our Lord as He seeks us out. Do you see this in your own life? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that it is primarily our responsibility to seek out God. And though we certainly have this responsibility, our duty is made much easier when we understand how passionately our Lord seeks us out and desires to find us when we stray. Only in Heaven will we fully understand all that our Lord has done to seek us out, day in and day out. But for now, we must strive to understand this spiritual truth so that we will be more open to Jesus’ diligent search for us.
A second thing this passage reveals is the joy in the Heart of the Son of God every time He finds us and carries us away from our sin. Too often we can fall into the trap of seeing God as a judgmental God who is angry at us and condemning. But if we understand the extent to which the Son of God went, so as to find us when we stray, and if we can understand the joy in His heart upon finding us and carrying us away from sin, then we will more readily open ourselves to Him, to His gentle invitations, and to His merciful Heart every time He comes to us by grace.
Reflect, today, upon the great anticipation in the Heart of our Lord as He personally seeks you out. The anticipation is that of joy—the joy that He is filled with as He picks you up and gently carries you back to the Father. Allow this joy in the Heart of our Lord to come to fruition so that you will share in this abundance of joy.
My diligent Lord, You seek me out, day and night, never tiring of calling me to return more fully to Yourself. Please help me to fill Your Heart with joy by always responding to Your gentle invitations of love and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I welcome your comfort and consolation. When I have strayed and was lost through sin, you sent your Son to find me. When I have remained in the fold, you sent your Son to care for me and nourish me. Help me overcome the temptation to stray from your holy will and strengthen my resolve to remain in your grace.
1. Isaiah’s Promise of Comfort: In the First Reading, God commands Isaiah to promise comfort to his people and speak tenderly to them. The hardship of God’s people, who were sold into exile, will one day come to an end, and the spiritual debt incurred through their sins will be forgiven. A sign of the imminent arrival of this comfort and forgiveness is the appearance of the voice that cries out in the desert to prepare for God’s coming. We know, from the New Testament, that the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy about a voice in the desert is John the Baptist. He is the herald of the Good News and points the people of Judah, who gathered around him in the wilderness, to Jesus as the Lamb of God and the Mighty One. We can imagine the words of Isaiah on John’s lips: “Here is your God! Here comes with power, the Lord God!”
Reflection Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Jesus is that shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep in the hills and sets out to look for the one lost sheep. Jesus knows that the Father wills not even one be lost. God loves each and every one of us and will do anything to save us from harm. God sends his only Son Jesus to come to us to bring every one of us back to God.
Very often we are one of the ninety-nine. We are in a safe place. We put all our attention in what is achievable and do what is cost-effective. We have no time for those who fall behind. We regard them as a hindrance to progress. We want to get rid of them as if they were baggage, rather than to carry them along in a neighborly manner; we have no room for what is not in our projects. This is not Christ-like!.
Christian teachers, social workers, parents, church leaders … we can model ourselves on the Good Shepherd, looking out for those who fall behind, or we can remain up in the hills counting our blessings. But if we are complacent, we will lose track of Jesus, who is out there somewhere looking for lost sheep.
Lord Jesus, thank You for looking out for me. Don’t give up on me, Lord!
Meditation Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent: 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 someone 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."
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