DAILY- HOMILY

December 11, 2018 – TUESDAY, 2ND Week of Advent

St. Damasus I, Pope

Violet.

Is 40: 1 - 11 / Mt 18: 12 – 14

From Spain, St. Damasus I (305 - 384), Pope, summoned the 1st General Council of Constantinople (381). He also commissioned St. Jerome (347? - 419/20) to work on the Latin Vulgate and changed the liturgical language of the Western Church to Latin.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Is 40: 3 - 5, 10- 11

A voice cries, "In the wilderness prepare the way for Yahweh.. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley will be raised up; every mountain and hill will be laid low. The stumbling blocks shall become level and the rugged places smooth. The glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all mortals together will see it: for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken." ...

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

There Jesus said, "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

In the first reading the prophet Isaiah speaks of Yahweh leading his people to their homeland: "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." At the appointed time John the Baptist prepared the people by repentance for sins and baptism in water for the coming of the Messiah.

During Advent we prepare for the joyful celebration of the birth of God­made-Man. We also prepare for his glorious Second Coming at the end of time.

How do we prepare for his Second Coming? We do our best to live in accordance to his commandments; we do our share in proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God; we do our share in seeking the stray in their way to the heavenly kingdom.

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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