Tuesday Second Week of Advent, Dec. 12, 2006

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11. Psalm 96:1-3,10-13. Matthew 18:12-14 One of the verses of today's Psalm says, "Sing to the Lord a new song." And we do sing with joy the new Advent Songs but the tried and true of the old are also sung with newness in our voices. We like to hear them and sing them whether in an office, a car, or in our room where we may relax and pray. There is a peacefulness about them and an expectation that promises will be fulfilled. Isaiah's prophecy is like a new song: "Comfort, give comfort to my people says our God" (Isaiah 40:1). We hear John the Baptist crying and singing out, "Prepare the way of the Lord." He is fulfilling what Isaiah is talking about. We can hear the Godspel version in our mind's memory giving a new melody to this prophecy. Isaiah tells us that God is like a shepherd gathering and caring for each lamb, each sheep. And in the Gospel we read that Jesus is also a shepherd who is more interested in the lamb or sheep that has strayed than in the ninety-nine who are huddled together in safety. We sometimes are that lost sheep and when we pray and reflect we see that the shepherd is looking for us and looking after us. We learn of Jesus' mercy, compassion, and forgiveness as we are raised and pressed against his bosom. This imagery is captivating and bucolic yet so far from our world of fast and faster productivity, more and more noise, restlessness and trying to catch up with everything going on around us. Advent is the time to return to the peaceful and prayerful time we alot ourselves. The arms of Christ await us. We need to rest and to listen to the new songs the Good Shepherd is singing. Amen.