Gospel for Tuesday 12/10 the Second Week of Lent.
Matthew 18:12-14
What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? 13 And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 14 In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.
REFLECTION
For as long as I can remember I have taken solace in these words of Jesus; it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost. Matt. 18: 14. They don’t make them littler than me. This assurance does not mean that tough things will not come my way in my lifetime. It does not mean that I might not consider myself completely lost at times. It does not mean that I might not sink pretty low in my despair or that I might not make some pretty bad choices.
I simply can’t be perpetually lost with Jesus by my side. No matter where I take us, for He is at my side through it all, He knows the way out. And, I am fairly certain it would not have been the way I chose.
I have a wise and experienced shepherd by my side. He has shepherded countless souls through unimaginable terrors. Although I have no idea where I am going, and, although I am making this up as I go along, He has very specific plans for using me to serve His purposes, and, I will gladly go wherever. Just don’t lose me; that is all I pray and, please don’t let this hundredth sheep wander out in the dark too long.
Once again, humbleness seems to be the theme in our Advent Gospel.
We pray: Please help us to close our eyes once in a while to allow You to see the path ahead for us. Help us to be quiet enough to hear your call that leads us to that place where You know we belong.
Joseph and Mary did some wandering before they found the place of Jesus’ birth. As we wander through this Advent help us to find that same place so that we might celebrate His birth. 67
Jim Rauschenbach