GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 6TH DECEMBER 2016
TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
1ST READING: Isaiah 40:1-11
PSALM: Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13
GOSPEL: Matthew 18:12-14
THEME: THE TURN TOWARDS HOPE
Night has never been able to conquer sunrise. No matter how long and cold the night may be, the sun would always rise. Often when we think all is lost, God opens a window of hope.
The land of Judah had suffered three catastrophic waves of Babylonian invasion, 605 B.C., 597 B.C. and 586 B.C., culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem. The inhabitants of Jerusalem were humiliated. Some were sent to Babylon as captives and those who remained in Jerusalem had the ruins to remind them of their wounds and heavy defeat. After many years under the dominion of Babylon, the prophet Isaiah comes with a message of hope from the Lord – “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid…”(Isa 40:1-2).
We find in the above text, a double assurance of deliverance as expressed in the repetition of the word “comfort”. The prophetic message of hope and consolation addressed to Jerusalem ends with a beautiful imagery of the caring attitude of the Lord towards his people – “He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep” (Isa 40:11).
The image of a caring shepherd is further expressed by Jesus in our Gospel text when he suggests that a shepherd would leave his ninety-nine sheep and go in search of the lost one. He then adds, “It is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost” (Mat 18:14).
The thought that “God cares about me” should console each one of us in times of desolation. Like Jerusalem, you may have suffered humiliation. You may feel lost like a sheep that has gone astray. The Good news, during this season of Advent, is that there is HOPE. Jesus, our messiah, comes in search of those who are lost. He comes to wipe away our tears and give us a reason to live in peace and joy.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, my heart throbs with joy as I hear your footsteps heading towards my direction. Now is the time of salvation; my hour of deliverance is near. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).