GOD’S WORD
December 6, 2016 (Tuesday) 2nd Week of Advent 1st Reading: Is 40:1-11
Be comforted, my people, be strengthened, says your God.Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, proclaim to her that her time of bondage is at an end, that her guilt has been paid for, that from the hand of Yahweh she has received double punishment for all her iniquity.
A voice cries, “In the wilderness prepare the way for Yahweh. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley will be raised up; every mountain and hill will be laid low. The stumbling blocks shall become level and the rugged places smooth. The glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all mortals together will see it; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”
A voice says, “Cry.” and I say, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty as the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of Yahweh blows upon it. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will forever stand.” Go up onto the high mountain, messenger of good news to Zion, lift up your voice with strength, fear not to cry aloud when you tell Jerusalem and announce to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!
Here comes Yahweh Sabaoth with might; his strong arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and here before him is his booty. Like a shepherd he tends his flock: he gathers the lambs in his arms, he carries them in his bosom, gently leading those that are with young. Gospel: Mt 18:12-14 What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one? And I tell you, when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it, than about the ninety-nine that did not go astray. It is the same with your Father in heaven. Your Father in heaven doesn’t want even one of these little ones to perish.
Reflection:
“Where there is smoke, there is fire,” according to a wellknown proverb. Likewise, if a given saint’s memory is surrounded by beautiful legends about the saint’s holiness, it seems reasonable to think that at least some of these legends have a basis in reality.
About today’s saint, we have very few hard facts but plenty of beautiful legends. In terms of facts, we only know that Nicholas was bishop of Mira, on the southern coast of Turkey during the first half of the fourth century. Legends of his wonderful generosity made him the “Santa Claus” of recent centuries.
One legend about his great charity goes like this. A poor man had three daughters of marriageable age but could not provide them with dowries. Our good Nicholas, having heard of this, managed on three separate nights to toss a bag of gold coins through the window of the poor man’s house, thus enabling him to marry off his three daughters.
Over time this particular legend was transformed into a tradition of gift giving on the saint’s feast. In the English-speaking countries, St. Nicholas became, by a twisting of the tongue, Santa Claus, who is portrayed to young children as bringing them gifts at Christmas time. CLARETIAN COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, INC. 8 Mayumi Street, U.P. Village, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines • Tel.: (02) 921-3984, 922-0011 • Fax: (02) 921-6205, 927-7429 • Bookstore: (02)924-6835•Email:ccfi@claretianpublications.com/cci@claret.org • Website: www.claretianpublications.com