2nd Week of the Advent - Tuesday
6th December 2022 (Tuesday) Readings and Reflection
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are on the Tuesday of 2nd Week of the Advent. Today's gospel reflection is on the theme Comfort, comfort!
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
1. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfarea is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3. A voice cries:b “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6. A voice says, “Cry!” And I said,c “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beautyd is like the flower of the field. 7. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9. Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news;e lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news;f lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10. Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Psalm 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12a, 12b-13 (R. see Isaiah 40:9-10)
Response: The Lord our God comes with might.
O sing a new song to the Lord;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
O sing to the Lord; bless his name.
Proclaim his salvation day by day. Response
Tell among the nations his glory,
and his wonders among all the peoples.
Say to the nations, "The Lord is king."
he will judge the peoples in fairness. Response
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad;
let the sea and all within it thunder praise.
Let the land and all it bears rejoice. Response
Then will all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice;
he will govern the peoples with his truth. Response
Gospel : Matthew 18:12-14
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 12. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13. And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14. So it is not the will of mye Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: No Comfort, comfort!
Indicative: The mercy and forgiveness of God are unimaginable and incomparable. He never condemns us mercilessly. He waits for our return endlessly{alertSuccess}
1. The world of today is more and more steeped in negativity and unforgiveness. This leads to retaliation and violence. Sadly, this human spirit of hostility, condemnation, and destruction is projected on God also. Consequently, people can easily condemn and destroy others, all in the name of God as if they obtained a licence from God.
2. This is clearly a distorted image of God and a falsified way of religion. In such a context, the word of God presents a refreshing and empowering image of God. Our God is not a God who condemns and punishes. He is not a God who forsakes the strayed to their fate. He never takes delight in the destruction of even the greatest sinner.
3. He pardons the iniquities of the strayed. He is the true shepherd who goes in search of the lost sheep. He finds it and rejoins it to his fold. He is totally faithful to his Father’s will that wills no one to perish. He will tend the sheep tenderly and intimately.
4. Jesus is the perfect embodiment and fulfillment of this image of God. He came to seek and restore the lost. He came to give personally the taste of the abundant tenderness and mercy of God. He appeals to us to return in repentance. He assures us that God is patiently waiting to re-embrace us. He wants to forgive us, heal us and renew our lost dignity and joy. For he is the shepherd who carries us in his bosom and gently leads.
5. In response to such a merciful God, what must be our duty? First, confide deeply in this abiding mercy and tenderness of God. Develop a personal intimacy with him. Change the perspective from fear and dry duty to love and joyful loyalty. Realise the transience of human life and the earthly things: “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower”.
Imperative: The greatest call for each one of us is, “Prepare the way of the Lord” in the wilderness of the world. Make straight what is crooked, and level what is uneven. Live a changed life! {alertSuccess}
Video Reflection
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