Tuesday, December 06, 2011 {St. Nicholas, Bishop (Optional Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
"Not the goods of the world, but God.
Not riches, but God.
Not honors, but God.
Not distinction, but God.
Not dignities, but God.
Not advancement, but God.
God always and in everything."
-- St Vincent Pallotti

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
(Words of Hope)

1 “Comfort my people,” says our God. “Comfort them!

2 Encourage the people of Jerusalem. Tell them they have suffered long enough and their sins are now forgiven. I have punished them in full for all their sins.”

3 A voice cries out, “Prepare in the wilderness a road for the Lord! Clear the way in the desert for our God!

4 Fill every valley; level every mountain. The hills will become a plain, and the rough country will be made smooth.

5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it. The Lord himself has promised this.”

6  A voice cries out, “Proclaim a message!” “What message shall I proclaim?” I ask. “Proclaim that all human beings are like grass; they last no longer than wild flowers.

7 Grass withers and flowers fade when the Lord sends the wind blowing over them. People are no more enduring than grass.

8 Yes, grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of our God endures forever.”

9 Jerusalem, go up on a high mountain and proclaim the good news! Call out with a loud voice, Zion; announce the good news! Speak out and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah that their God is coming!

10 The Sovereign Lord is coming to rule with power, bringing with him the people he has rescued. He will take are of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers.

Psalms: Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13
(God the Supreme King)

1 Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing to the Lord, all the world!

2 Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us.

3 Proclaim his glory to the nations, his mighty deeds to all peoples.

10 Say to all the nations, “The Lord is king! The earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with justice.”

11 Be glad, earth and sky! Roar, sea, and every creature in you;

12 be glad, fields, and everything in you! The trees in the woods will shout for joy

13 when the Lord comes to rule the earth. He will rule the peoples of the world with justice and fairness.

Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14

12 “What do you think a man does who has one hundred sheep and one of them gets lost? He will leave the other ninety-nine grazing on the hillside and go and look for the lost sheep.

13 When he finds it, I tell you, he feels far happier over this one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not get lost.

14 In just the same way your Father in heaven does not want any of these little ones to be lost.