Monday, December 05, 2016

 

Tuesday, 2nd Week of Advent

06 December 2016        
Tuesday, 2nd Week of Advent 
St. Nicholas, Bishop   
Violet.       

Is 40:1 – 11 / Mt 18: 12 - 14

Born in present-day Turkey, St. Nicholas (270 – 343), Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, is known as St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker due to many miracles attributed to his intercession.  He is popularized as Santa Claus and is the Patron of Russia, Greece, Sicily and Lorraine.

From the 1st Reading: Is 40:  10 – 11
Here comes your God with might; his strong arm rules for him; his reward is with him and here before him is his booty.  Like a shepherd he tends his flock' he gathers the lambs in his arms, he carries them in his bosom, gently leading those that are with young
'
Gospel Reading: Mt 18: 12 – 14
Jesus said to his disciples, "What do you think of this?  If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one?  And I tell you: when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it than about the ninety-nine that did not get lost.  It is the same with your Father in heaven:  there they don't want even one of these little ones to be lost."

Reflection
Christmas is fast approaching, and today is the feast of St. Nicholas, the Saint from whom the popular American image of Santa Claus originated.  According to the website www.biography.com, St. Nicholas was best known for his generosity.  Even during his lifetime nearly two thousand years ago, he was quite famous for using his own resources to help the sick and the needy, the neglected of society.  After his death, his generosity became legend and many stories of how he helped others became part of popular lore.  

Today's Gospel reading highlights the value of each sheep, no matter how small or insignificant.  The good shepherd will leave the flock just to find that one sheep that got lost.  

What does it mean to be a "lost sheep?"  In Jesus' context, he was most likely talking about people who have forgotten about God or who have lost their faith.  Most certainly, he was also referring to the marginalized in our community, those who are suffering, the poor, the downtrodden--the ignored sectors of our society.  

Bringing this down to our own daily lives, who might you consider the "lost sheep" in your life?  Might there be family members who have been shunned by others?  Could you have enemies whom you have rejected as being utterly evil?  Do you encounter and ignore the homeless people and families living on the streets?  

The example of St. Nicholas directly addresses the call of today's Gospel, that is, to find the lost sheep.  Bring this to prayer today and listen to how Jesus is calling you to answer the same call.  


WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY
     Adrian Samuel D. Tan
     Nicolo Joseph Dy Sy

IN MEMORIAM (+)
     Miguel Ymaz (Aug 12, 1943 – Dec 6, 2010)

OTHER INTENTIONS:
For the safe delivery of Iona Dy.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
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