Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Homily for Tuesday, Week 2 of Advent

Homily for Tuesday
Week 2 of Advent

Dec. 10, 2024
Is 40: 1-11
Matt 18: 12-14
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

“The word of our God stands forever” (Is 40: 8)

Shepherd & a lost sheep
(James Tissot)

God’s word is a word of deliverance.  The 2d main part of Isaiah, ch. 40-55, rejoices in the good news (40:9) that the power of God is about to save Israel from her captivity in Babylon—“her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated” (40:2).  God will lead her thru the desert wasteland and rough country back to Zion (40:3-4,9), to the holy land.  God shepherds his people (40:11).

Jesus also shepherds his people, finding those who’ve strayed—which we all do in one way or another—and delivering us from the dangers and rough paths on which we walk toward Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem that will be our eternal home:  nobis donet vitam in patria.  He is the incarnate Word of our God, and he stands forever with us.

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