Reflection for

Tuesday 2nd Week of Advent Memorial of St. Ambrose

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Today's WORD of GOD 

Matthew18:12-14 

 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. 


 Today's Reflection 

I Once was Lost, And Now I’m Found. There is a Hidden Depth in Each One of Us which, when It is Found by GOD, Our Good Shepherd, will become GOD'S Instrument for Transforming Our Existence. We will have Joy because the 99% of Ourselves will be Transformed by This One Percent. The Lost Sheep is that Buried, Secluded or Forgotten Part within Each of Us. 

A Good Example of the Lost Sheep is Seen in the Prophet-Author of 2nd Isaiah, Telling of His Prophetic Call that Originated in GOD'S Heavenly Throne Room. GOD Calls to the many Celestial Beings Around HIS Throne: “Comfort, O Comfort My People!” 

A Prophet of Mighty Ability Replied with the Question: “What shall I Cry Out?” & then Began a Prophetic Career Leading to the Composition of the most Golden Poetry in the Bible. Yet, for the Prophet Himself, the People’s Return to Their Homeland, Away from the Babylonian Exile, Turned Out to be a Way Toward Rejection & Oblivion. 

His Name was Forgotten & His Exquisite Poetry Simply Added to the Scroll of the Earlier Prophet Isaiah. He was like the Lost Sheep Waiting to be Found by the LORD.

JESUS & HIS 1st Disciples Turned to This Prophecy. Through It They could See John the Baptist as Preparing the Way of the LORD, & It Helped the Disciples Find Peace after Their Master’s Death by Execution. 

We Look Forward to Christmas when JESUS Steps Anew into Our Lives to Uncover Hidden Meanings, Talents & Hopes that can Turn Our Lives Around.

Not Letting the Individual be Lost

The Behaviour of the Shepherd in 

This Gospel could Seem a Little Foolish. He leaves 99 sheep on the Hillside to Go in Search of One Sheep who has Rambled Off & is Now Lost. He Leaves the Flock Defenceless to Go Looking for One. He Risks All 99 for the Sake of One Sheep. The Attitude of the Shepherd is the Opposite to the Attitude of the High Priest Caiaphas who Said, with Reference to JESUS, “It is Better for One Man to Die for the People than to Have the Whole Nation Perish.” 

The Shepherd in Today’s Parable Certainly was Not of that View. JESUS was Presenting the Shepherd as an Image of GOD, & Indeed of JESUS HIMSELF. GOD in JESUS is Concerned about the One. The One is of Infinite Value. The LORD is Equally Devoted to Each One of Us. The Parable Calls on Us to Value Each Other as much as the LORD Values Each of Us.


Good Morning 

GOD Bless Us

Have a pleasant day.