THE ONE WHO STRAYS

PRAYER MOMENT

Tuesday 10 December 2013

THE ONE WHO STRAYS

Pause. Remember that you are in God’s presence.

Reading. “If he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all.” (Matt 18:12-14)

Reflection. The Advent message is God’s compassion for every person and all his creation. Our media speaks of so many thousands killed in a typhoon in the Philippines. But each of these people is known to God and each represents a human tragedy. There was news only yesterday of a man arrested, assaulted, imprisoned and a bribe extorted for taking a harmless photo. That too is known to God. It is not the ninety-nine that the Lord considers but each individual person with all his or her personal joys and sorrows, hopes and anxieties. The message of Advent is that we do not suffer alone or to no purpose. Everything, even tragedy, is alive with energy and pregnant with the promise of God’s reign.  

Prayer. Lord, in our daily struggles and hopes we turn to you, trusting that, even in our small way, we are part of the great story of the coming of your kingdom. Console those who suffer and see no hope.  Amen.