Readings
I - Is. 40: 1-11
II - Mt. 18: 12-14
JESUS IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD
“It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost” is the concern, care and mindfulness of the Good Shepherd towards his sheep. Leaving ninety nine on the mountain and going in search of the lost one do not mean that the ninety nine are less important to him. Every sheep in the ninety nine matters to the shepherd individually and personally; they are secure in his care and therefore he goes in search of the one that is lost. Every one of the sheep is precious to him and he is willing to give up his life to save even the one that is lost in wandering in order to bring it back safe to the sheepfold where they are free and secure.
As sheep belonging to the Sheepfold of Christ we have a triple responsibility: One, to remain in the sheepfold; two, if wandering away from Christ, adhere to his voice and get back to the sheepfold; and three, with Christ gather the sheep into the sheepfold through our words, deed, gestures and in short, through our exemplary living. Today the church celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas, 4th century bishop of Myra, from whom was derived the inspiration for the Santa Claus. The saint is known for his charity and generosity. He sold all his possessions and gave the money to the poor and the less privileged. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Greece and Russia; also of the soldiers and children. The saint who cared for the less fortunate inspire us to be generous towards the sick and weak sheep of the sheepfold. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “St. Nicholas, Pray for us.
