Proclaim and Pray

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge disciples to act so as to bring attention to the intimate focus of God on loving each human being. The author of the passage from Deutero-Isaiah exhorts us to proclaim the holiness of God and His Lordship over history. Friar Jude Winkler comments how this text portrays the fatherhood and motherhood of God as Shepherd. The Gospel from Matthew declares that the shepherd will leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray. This action is contrary to our cultural sense of cutting our losses. Friar Jude suggests that we are responsible to reflect about our actions toward the lost sheep so as we can give them what they need now. Our faith is that God always provides the most loving response and our limited vision is too often blinded by our own limited expectations and selfish concerns. Susan Tinley is comforted by the intimate eternal knowledge God has about us. Our prayer is to be open and humbly seek guidance from God to align our action with His Will to Love the anawim.