Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
2ND WEEK OF ADVENT
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)
Our Lady of Loreto
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96: 1-2, 3, 10ac, 11-12, 13: The Lord our God comes with power.
1st Reading: Isaiah 40: 1-11
Be comforted, my people, be strengthened, says your God. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, proclaim to her that her time of bondage is at an end, that her guilt has been paid for, that from the hand of Yahweh she has received double punishment for all her iniquity.
A voice cries, “In the wilderness prepare the way for Yahweh. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley will be raised up; every mountain and hill will be laid low. The stumbling blocks shall become level and the rugged places smooth. The glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all mortals together will see it; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”
A voice says, “Cry.” and I say, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty as the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of Yahweh blows upon it. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will forever stand.” Go up onto the high mountain, messenger of good news to Zion, lift up your voice with strength, fear not to cry aloud when you tell Jerusalem and announce to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!
Here comes Yahweh Sabaoth with might; his strong arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and here before him is his booty. Like a shepherd he tends his flock: he gathers the lambs in his arms, he carries them in his bosom, gently leading those that are with young.
Gospel: Matthew 18: 12-14
What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one?
And I tell you, when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it, than about the ninety-nine that did not go astray. It is the same with your Father in heaven. Your Father in heaven doesn’t want even one of these little ones to perish.
REFLECTION:
“The little ones.”
Each one of us is precious in God’s eyes. Zero doubt, God always cares for us. The season of Advent is a time to strive to become a better person. Hence, Advent is a time for renewal. It is a time to look back and see where we failed. It is a time to make resolutions that we will make things better in the days to come. Further, we might appear insignificant to other people but God loves us and he wants us to grow.
Today’s Gospel narrates the parable of the Lost Sheep, highlighting the value of caring for “the little ones.”
In Matthew 18, the expression “the little ones” may refer to the disciples. Jesus’ disciples are challenged to be like little children in terms of dependency on God. Intricately connected to this dependency on God is the trust that God will always take care of his children. And if God himself takes care of those who follow Jesus, the disciples themselves must also take care of one another.
Moreover, the disciples should search for those who have gone astray in order to lead them back to God. It is the will of our heavenly Father that no one will perish.
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