9 December 2014— GOSPEL MT 18:12-14

Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Advent

GOSPEL MT 18:12-14

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."

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, Jesus gives us d parable of d lost sheep. Shepherds in Israel normally counted their sheep at d end of d day.

Since d sheep by their very nature r very social, an isolated or strayed sheep can quickly bcm restless. Knowing this nature of d sheep, d shepherd wd normally go in search of d lost sheep. The shepherd's anxiety & sadness is turned to joy when he finds d lost sheep & restores it to d fold.

Jesus makes it clear that for God, evry human person is equal b4 Him. He is compassionate & loving & He is restless if His sheep is lost. So when d sinners go away frm Him, He goes behind them searching as shepherd goes behind d lost sheep.

Evry sinner is like a sheep that is lost & God wants evry sinner to cum back to Him. Thru this parable Jesus brought out d fact that God rejoices over d conversion of d sinners.

Prayer: Lord, help me to have tenderness and compassion for d lost sheep. Amen.

Jesus loves u. Hv a 1dful day wt Jesus. God bless.