Invitation to Prayer: “Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”
Reflection: I have always been awed by the book of Isaiah, written centuries before the birth of Christ. As a teen, I recognized the connection between Isaiah and the Gospels, but I was left speechless when I realized how extensive the time lapse was between Isaiah’s prophecies and the birth of Jesus. In today’s readings, we encounter reference to the Good Shepherd in the text of both Isaiah and Matthew, once again emphasizing the fulfillment of the Word in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah proclaims, “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” Being a shepherd in ancient times was a noble and humble profession. A “good shepherd” took the time to tend to the sheep rather than watching them from afar. There was a sense of relationship with the flock, and the wellbeing of every lamb was paramount. A “good shepherd” would never forsake a single sheep. This sense of intimacy and care parallels the role that Christ plays in our lives.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is there with us through our celebrations, challenges, and wounds. When we turn to Him, he tends to us with loving compassion. When we run from Him (as Matthew states), “will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?” Christ is constantly reaching out to each and every one of us, and it is through our own free will that we choose to receive his sanctifying grace.
As humans with limited capacity for love, we often forsake one another and sometimes ourselves. Perhaps we simply lose patience with a family member, or maybe we write someone off as a lost cause, but in Christ, there are no lost causes. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, seeks out every lost sheep. During this Advent season, as we take time to quiet ourselves and connect with Christ, let us take pause to strive for the perfect love of the Good Shepherd- an unconditional love that does not forsake God’s creation.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd, who tenderly cares for each of us, never forsaking a single soul. We are in awe of Your boundless love, which reaches out to us in all our joys and struggles. Help us to recognize Your presence in our lives, and to open our hearts to receive Your grace. As we journey through this Advent season, teach us to love as You love—unconditionally and without end. May we seek out the lost and show the compassion You offer to all. Thank You for always tending to us with care and mercy. Amen.
Closing: Who in my life have I forsaken? Have I ever forsaken myself? What can I do this Advent Season to open my heart to the abundant love of Christ?
Noelle Collis-DeVito is the English Curriculum Research Assistant for the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives at the University of Dayton. She just completed her Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry with a Certificate in Disability and Ministry and is excited to put her skills to use in her work creating curriculum for adult faith formation and adaptive resources for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She serves on the Council on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and is on the Board for the Respect Life Fund for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. She also serves as the advisor for Flyers for Life at the University of Dayton.
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