The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the care of God for His children.
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| Care for the family |
The passage from the Book of Isaiah describes how God’s people in exile in Babylon are comforted.
* [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.1
Psalm 96 is praise to God who comes in judgement.
* [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 16:23–33.2
In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus uses the parable of the Lost Sheep to present the Love of God the Father.
* [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.3
Beth Samson finds it reassuring to read these words, to know that God wants to be close to us. One of those facts that we know, but we can easily forget. However, we are human. Which means, at times, we do feel lost, distant from our relationship with a God who loves us infinitely.
In this season of Advent, this Gospel passage relays the messages of the season – the light of God’s darkness shines bright in the darkness, and hope will prevail. If I were this sheep, I would likely feel fearful and hopeless in being reunited with my flock and shepherd. But, what Jesus reminds us, is that God searches for us in our darkness, bringing us back home to God’s infinite love.
For those of us who may feel lost, may we find hopefulness in this passage. For those of us who are in darkness, may we be on the lookout for the light of God’s love coming to find us. For all the rest of us, may we be beacons of God’s love throughout this Advent season.4
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)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 18:12-14 comments that we tend to think of Jesus as the main character in the parable. He is, after all, the “good shepherd” who lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:10-11). But this time, Jesus tells us that God the Father is also like a shepherd: “It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost” (Matthew 18:14, emphasis added).
This is the God we believe in. He is intimately familiar with everything about you and completely devoted to your care. He is attentive to your needs and eager to bring you back when you lose your way. Best of all, he is filled with joy when you are restored.
So if you are feeling overwhelmed by a troubling problem, remember that God knows the situation inside and out. He knows what you need and can lead you through any knotty situation. And if you—or any of your loved ones—stray off the path, he is ready to pursue you and bring you back.6
Friar Jude Winkler explains the Second Isaiah text that addresses the exiles in Babylon about 550 BCE. Intimate images are of God who intervenes. Friar Jude reminds us of how parents, like God, love their children by addressing the needs of the little ones.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, has been told that often the people who are most in need of the Twelve-Step program have a very negative attitude toward God that was taught them by immature religion. This can be challenging since the essence of both the spiritual journey and the healing journey of AA is “a movement from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.” [2] Moreover, Bill Wilson insisted on the necessity of a “vital spiritual experience.” Here’s how Thomas Keating explained how AA can handle this challenge. Naturally, Keating, who was one of the original creators of Centering Prayer, would have liked to see contemplation introduced into the program much earlier than the Eleventh Step as an aid to relating to God.
Many AA people are sponsors helping others in their effort of recovery. God is present in service. God is present in human love. God is present in conjugal relationships. God is present in the flowers, in the sunsets, and in the fields. God is present in all of nature without calling it God. Being open to the Higher Power actually opens us to the fact that all creation is penetrated by a presence that transcends our sensible faculties and introduces us to a world both of mystery and experience. [3]7
Today, we thank Uncle Roger for his work (Some Descendants of James MacPherson of Fisher's Grant) on the family ancestry and cite his short biographical sketch of Dad and Mom on the 16th anniversary of Dad’s death.
From John Roger MacPherson in Some Descendants of James MacPherson. Hugh Reid MacPherson (Hugh Reid 6, William James 5, Roderick 4, William 3, Thomas 2, James 1) was born on 12 Jun 1925 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, died on 10 Dec 2003 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia aged 78, and was buried in Capital Gardens Cemetery, Sydney, N.S. Reid MacPherson graduated from Sydney Academy. He served in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps during WW 2, serving in NW Europe with the 8th N.B. Hussar's (Princess Louise's) . After the war, he returned to studies at Mt. Allison University and later graduated from Nova Scotia Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was employed as an engineer with the Dominion Steel and Coal Company and its successors for many years, in the coal mining operations in Glace Bay, N.S. and later in Sydney. N.S. Hugh married Margaret Walker in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. Margaret was born in 1928 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, died on 5 Mar 2008 in Sydney, Nova Scotia aged 80, and was buried on 8 Mar 2008 in Capital Garden cemetery Sydney , N.S. Children from this marriage were Reid David MacPherson and Donald Gary MacPherson
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| Remembering Dad and Mom |
The “Good Shepherd” is tending the flock of Creation and presenting choices to us to bring deeper relationship with God and others in our lives.
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