BEHOLD YOUR GOD…

Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people is grass.8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.
9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Matthew 18:12-14 

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

MEDITATION

ISAIAH PROGNOSTICATE that the Messiahs coming is emminent, wherefore he promises that those who end their acrimonious wars and straighten their ways shall receive a double blessing! Isaiah concede that whilst man is fallible in so far as we so easily loose our goodness and beauty, we are neverless called to submit and ascend to God, allowing Him to rescue, carry, feed and heal us. 

THE GOSPEL READING: Our Lord express His deep love and concern for the wellbeing of all His children; especially those who have gone atray to the extend that He will leave the ninety-nine on the mountain, to stoop down and rescue us who are trapped in sin! 

Christ sublimely fortell that although He will die, and be raised from the dead, He will continue to be in contact with us from His heavenly seat. In other words Christ will perform supernatural works of mercy and grace through His earthly shepherds; consacrated priests, who ‘in persona Christi’ shall rescue the lost sheep who humbly submit to the Holy sacraments that restore, heal and dispense God’s grace and everlasting love and mercy. We are called to “behold [our] God, which means to literally honor and worship Christ the Son in the marvelous Holy Sacraments that reconcile broken relationships, pardon sin and give joy! 

LET US PRAY:Psalms 96:1-3,10-13

O 1sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.