PRI Reflections on Scripture | Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Advent

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel 

Matthew 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

I often wonder how the disciples would receive a simple story like this, based on their own human experiences of being preoccupied by what is lost and wanting always to find it. Jesus is describing God, God's life in you and in me, and he's saying that he is very, very much engaged in the work of finding us, searching for us, helping us back into the flock.

It's a beautiful image of the church, of a community of people who care deeply for one another.

Closing Prayer

Awaken our imaginations to the beauty of a simple story like this that reminds us over and over again that we don't have a distant God, a God who is not connected to us. He's deeply connected. He's inside of us. He worries about how we're doing, and his energy, his grace, his Holy Spirit guides us always. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross