Sacred Scripture
Jesus said to his disciples: “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? 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 18:12-14)
Reflection
These two verses from Matthew are replete with meaning. We are reminded through the Parable of the Lost Sheep how important each and every one of us is to our heavenly Father. We are created in His image and loved by Him. When we stray from Him, He is still there waiting to welcome us back to His love. And our heavenly Father, like the shepherd in the parable, rejoices when his lost sheep are found. There are no reparations to be paid, no repercussions to suffer. We are held in a joyful embrace. Our God is indeed one worthy of worship and praise.
In today’s world, during this season of Advent, we need to be reminded of that and to hold on to that. We need to remember how precious we are to Him. No matter our stature in life, our age, our ethnicity, our “standing” on the ladder of materiality success – none of this matter to Him. What matters to Him is our love relationship with Him.
Advent is truly a time of reflection and a time for preparation. Can you hold on to the belief that you are important to Him ? Can you stop and reflect on the enormity of His love? Can you believe that YOU are important to Him? You are
Today, take a moment to talk to God about our state in life and resolve to let him be actively present in our everyday living. Could there be any better way to prepare for Christmas than to open the doors of our hearts? Christ is there, knocking, asking to be allowed inside so he can heal us and make us whole again. It’s almost shocking to discover that we can please him simply by turning to him and letting him pick us up from where we’ve fallen and restore us to full friendship with him. Shouldn’t we permit Our Lord that pleasure, especially when the only cost is admitting our tremendous need for him, confessing our sins and inviting him back into our hearts, where he belongs?
Prayer of The Day
Holy God, I am intensely aware and deeply awed that you came to find me, one of your lost children. Give me your heart for those who are lost, too. This week, lead me to one you want back in your family and please give me the eyes to see that person when you place him or her in my path. Please give me the courage and conviction to act in ways that gently bring that lost person home. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Daily Note
As we go through the rest of this Advent season, where do we recognize God searching for us? In what ways are we being called to invite others to know God’s love and peace?
