Do you still not realise just how much Jesus loves you? Yes you the one reading this at this very moment! You who are uniquely created and loved as a child of God your Heavenly Father. You of whom He sent His only begotten Son to search out and redeem upon the cross which He hung and died in your stead. Yes that is how much the Lord our God loves you. That you may live free in the light of His resurrection.
Now then are you living in His light this very day? or have you chosen to live in darkness? For if you have chosen to live in His light then you should be out with us your sisters and brothers in Christ; each one in search of a sinner who had gone astray and to lead them home to Him. For the joy and glory of God our Heavenly Father through the grace of His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor Pray for us…..
First reading
Isaiah 40:1-11
Consolations from the heart of Jerusalem
‘Console my people, console them’
says your God.
‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem
and call to her
that her time of service is ended,
that her sin is atoned for,
that she has received from the hand of the Lord
double punishment for all her crimes.’
A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness
a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God
across the desert.
Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low.
Let every cliff become a plain,
and the ridges a valley;
then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed
and all mankind shall see it;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
A voice commands, ‘Cry!’
and I answered, ‘What shall I cry?’”
– ‘All flesh is grass
and its beauty like the wild flower’s.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on them.
(The grass is without doubt the people.)
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God remains for ever.’
Go up on a high mountain,
joyful messenger to Zion.
Shout with a loud voice,
joyful messenger to Jerusalem.
Shout without fear,
say to the towns of Judah,
‘Here is your God.’
Here is the Lord coming with power,
his arm subduing all things to him.
The prize of his victory is with him,
his trophies all go before him.
He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering lambs in his arms,
holding them against his breast
and leading to their rest the mother ewes.
Gospel
Matthew 18:12-14
The one lost sheep gives him more joy than the ninety-nine that did not stray
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.’
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