Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 - 2nd Week of Advent - Tues
[Isa 40:1-11 and Matt 18:12-14]Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care. [Isaiah] "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? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost." [Matthew]
DECEMBER 7 ST. AMBROSE, bishop and doctor of the church
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The image of shepherd and sheep is offered today as a part of the promise and fulfillment theme of Advent. The words from Isaiah come from the part of that book called "the book of comfort." The promised Messiah will come as a gentle shepherd caring for his flock. Indeed, God's flock is all of humanity and salvation is meant for all who desire it and live worthily. God will try to find us if we go astray.
Although the image of the shepherd and sheep is cloaked in positive meaning for us today, in Jesus' time, shepherds were suspect and considered unclean. The passage quoted from Matthew today appears also in Luke. In the latter gospel, the initial revelation of the birth of Jesus is made to shepherds!! Our nativity scenes almost always have a sheep or two and maybe a shepherd to remind us that lowly shepherds heard the word of God delivered by the angels and went to Bethlehem. Luke notes very importantly about the shepherds, "When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child." [Lk 2:17]
We are not summoned by Advent to a private event but to a worldwide fulfillment of God's promise to humankind. We are in good company with the shepherds and we are challenged to "make known the message" that has been told to us. AMEN