The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the promise of the Good Shepherd to carry us from exile to fellowship and love in His Flock.
The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah proclaims the Promise of Salvation
* [40:1–55:13] Chapters 40–55 are usually designated Second Isaiah (or Deutero-Isaiah) and are believed to have been written by an anonymous prophet toward the end of the Babylonian exile.
* [40:1] The “voices” of vv. 3, 6 are members of the heavenly court addressing the prophet; then v. 1 can be understood as the Lord addressing them. It is also possible to translate, with the Vulgate, “Comfort, give comfort, O my people” (i.e., the exiles are called to comfort Jerusalem). The juxtaposition of “my people” and “your God” recalls the covenant formulary.
* [40:2] Service: servitude (cf. Jb 7:1) and exile.
* [40:3–5] A description of the return of the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem (Zion). The language used here figuratively describes the way the exiles will take. The Lord leads them, so their way lies straight across the wilderness rather than along the well-watered routes usually followed from Mesopotamia to Israel. Mt 3:3 and gospel parallels adapt these verses to the witness of John the Baptizer to Jesus.
* [40:9] Herald of good news: i.e., of the imminent restoration of the people to their land. This theme of the proclamation of the good news occurs elsewhere in Second Isaiah; cf. also 41:27; 52:7. (“Isaiah, CHAPTER 40 | USCCB,” n.d.)
Psalm 96 is inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God.
* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (“Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB,” n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus proclaims “The Parable of the Lost Sheep.*”
* [18:10–14] The first and last verses are peculiar to Matthew. The parable itself comes from Q; see Lk 15:3–7. In Luke it serves as justification for Jesus’ table-companionship with sinners; here, it is an exhortation for the disciples to seek out fellow disciples who have gone astray. Not only must no one cause a fellow disciple to sin, but those who have strayed must be sought out and, if possible, brought back to the community. The joy of the shepherd on finding the sheep, though not absent in Mt 18:13 is more emphasized in Luke. By his addition of Mt 18:10, 14 Matthew has drawn out explicitly the application of the parable to the care of the little ones. (“Matthew, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB,” n.d.)
David Crawford shares a story that reminds us that people don’t wear signs to let us know what they are going through, and that most everyone we encounter has some burden we can’t see. It concludes: “Let’s choose patience. Let’s choose grace. Let’s choose love – even when there’s no sign telling us to.”
We who follow Christ are called to live lives of patience, mercy and love, which may be especially important since we will encounter, often unknowingly, lost “sheep.” We, as members of the body of Christ, have the opportunity, often unknowingly, to act as shepherds who brings God’s love, patience, kindness and compassion. As our Gospel reading tells us, it is not the will of the heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost. (Crawford, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “A small seed produces a great tree,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"Do you see in how many ways he leads us to care for our worthless brothers? Don't therefore say, 'The fellow's a smith, a cobbler, a farmer; he's stupid,' so that you despise him. In case you suffer the same, see in how many ways the Lord urges you to be moderate and enjoins you to care for these little ones. He placed a little child in the midst and said, 'Become like children,, and, 'Whoever receives one such child, receives me.' But 'whoever causes one of these to sin' will suffer the worst fate. And he was not even satisfied with the example of the millstone, but he also added his curse and told us to cut off such people, even though they are like a hand or eye to us. And again, through the angels to whom these small brothers are handed over, he urges that we value them, as he has valued them through his own will and passion. When Jesus says, 'The Son of man came to save the lost (Luke 19:10),' he points to the cross, just as Paul also says, writing about his brother for whom Christ died (Romans 14:15). It does not please the Father that anyone is lost. The shepherd leaves the ones that have been saved and seeks the one lost. And when he finds the one that has gone astray, he rejoices greatly at its discovery and at its safety." (excerpt from the THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 59.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 40:1-11 comments that the prophet reminds us that “though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). As we turn away from the sin that “withers” us, and as God removes the burden of our guilt, we can exult in the faithfulness of God. We can rejoice that our God came down low to meet us. The Infant King will be poor like us, vulnerable as we are. How wonderful, how full of love is our Lord Jesus, who emptied himself in this divine poverty!
Whatever your Advent has been like so far, make space for him in your heart today. He will fill it with his presence and goodness. Receive his tender words of comfort and the joy he has in store.
“Lord Jesus, thank you for becoming poor for me. Come and open my heart so there will be room for you there.” (“Meditation on Isaiah 40:1-11,” n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the beginning of Second Isaiah that was written during the exile in Babylon to comfort the people. The end of punishment has begun and God will lead them back home. It will be greater than the Exodus experience and Zion will herald glad tidings. The image of the Shepherd was popular during the Babylonial exile. Psalm 23 may have originated then too. In Matthew’s Gospel, the shepherd leaves the 99 to search for the lost one to proclaim the action of God for sinners. When we sin we experience loneliness and pain and God reaches out to bring us back home. Friar Jude asks what do we do, as parish communities, to bring people back to the faith and welcome the sinner back who is not lost any more?
Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that God uses Paul's past to further his ministry, and that God does the same with each of us, today. Commenting on today's readings from 2 Corinthians, Fr. Mike highlights that we are called to be cheerful givers and disciplined thinkers. He also points out that, as Paul reminds us, the most important ministry credential is to be called by God and equipped by his grace. Today's readings are Acts 22, 2 Corinthians 9-11, and Proverbs 29:5-7.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, is inspired by the teachings of John of the Cross. Mirabai Starr encourages us to trust the difficult path of unknowing. Starr translates John of the Cross’s poem “Glosa รก lo Divino”.
I would not sacrifice my soul
for all the beauty of this world.There is only one thing
for which I would risk everything:
an I-don’t-know-what
that lies hidden
in the heart of the Mystery.The taste of finite pleasure
leads nowhere.
All it does is exhaust the appetite
and ravage the palate.
And so, I would not sacrifice my soul
for all the sweetness of this world.But I would risk everything
for an I-don’t-know-what
that lies hidden
in the heart of the Mystery.The generous heart
does not collapse into the easy things,
but rises up in adversity.
It settles for nothing.
Faith lifts it higher and higher.Such a heart savors
an I-don’t-know-what
found only in the heart of the Mystery.The soul that God has touched
burns with love-longing.
Her tastes have been transfigured.
Ordinary pleasures sicken her.
She is like a person with a fever;
nothing tastes good anymore.All she wants
is an I-don’t-know-what
locked in the heart of
the Mystery….I will never lose myself
for anything the senses can taste,
nor for anything the mind can grasp,
no matter how sublime,
how delicious.
I will not pause for beauty,
I will not linger over grace.
I am bound for
an I-don’t-know-what
deep within the heart of the Mystery. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the care of the Good Shepherd who responds to our separation by seeking to return us to His Flock where we will be fully alive in Divine Love.
References
Crawford, D. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-9-2025
Isaiah, CHAPTER 40 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/40?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?
Meditation on Isaiah 40:1-11. (n.d.). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/09/1442626/
Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 9, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/met-by-the-beloved/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). God Carries Us in His Bosom. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 9, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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