At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned. – Matthew 9:36

       “When I witnessed this disaster from Rome, I felt that I had to be here… I wanted to come to be with you… I do not know what to tell you… I can only be silent; I accompany you silently, with my heart.”

       I cried as Pope Francis said these words to the bereaved people of Tacloban during his visit last year. Every word expressed his compassion for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. Deep was his empathy for them who suffer that he felt their pain, and no words could describe what was in his heart. And so he embraced and loved them in silent compassion. I felt his compassion, too.

       In today’s Gospel, Jesus felt pity for the people who were like “sheep without a shepherd.” Despite their wretchedness, He loved them to the cross. Like them, I am a lost sheep who wander aimlessly, distracted by problems, and overwhelmed by pride. The Good Shepherd searches for and finds me, and brings me back to the fold. All I need to do is to listen to His voice in the silence. Dina Pecaña (dpecana@yahoo.com)

Reflection:“Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Lord, Your compassion never ends for sinners like me. Grant me the grace to have a compassionate heart for the least, the lost and the last in our midst.

God sustains our lives despite our sins. Instead of condemning, He blesses us. But we sin against Him repeatedly. This Advent, let us be  transformed through deep repentance and invite God to fill us anew with His grace and strength.

Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26

19 Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. 20 The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, 21 while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or to the left. 23 He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, and the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant. On that day your flock will be given pasture and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows; 24 the oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat silage tossed to them with shovel and pitchfork. 25 Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of running water. On the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall, 26 the light of the moon will be like that of the sun and the light of the sun will be seven times greater like the light of seven days. On the day the Lord binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows.

Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

1 Praise the Lord, for he is good; sing praise to our God, for he is gracious; it is fitting to praise him. 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; the dispersed of Israel he gathers. (R) 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. (R) 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power: to his wisdom there is no limit. 6 The Lord sustains the lowly; the wicked he casts to the ground. (R)

In the past, evangelization meant packing our things and being sent to a distant place. Because of the urgent need for evangelization in our own places, perhaps it means being sent wherever you work, play or take a vacation. Pope Francis calls us to be a Church that is permanently on mission. This means being ready to share the Gospel at any time and in any place.

The Lord is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King; he it is who will save us.

Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5, 6-8

35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” 10:1 Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 5 Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, 6 “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

think: This Advent, let us be transformed through deep repentance of our sins, and invite God to fill us anew with His grace and strength.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR  Psalm 144-150

JESUS WAS OUTGOING

Three more Sundays, and we celebrate another Christmas — the Great and joyous feast of Jesus being born as a human being. Theologians of the Church through the centuries have alluded to this feast as a very important part of the Mystery of the Incarnation, the mystery of the Second Person of God — living in eternity as the Word — now taking the human flesh in the womb of the Blessed Mother.

       The Gospel proclamation today helps us understand in more practical terms what theology enunciates. The birth of Jesus, the Incarnation of God, the Word becoming Flesh shows: God is not just The One dwelling in majesty and in eternity. God is not The One we come to; rather, God is The One who comes to us. God is not only the Eternal One; He is the Outgoing One. We take note how the Gospel narrative underlines what happened when Jesus became flesh: “Jesus went around to all towns and villages, teaching, proclaiming, curing every disease... His heart was moved... He said: ‘Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers.’ Then He summoned His Twelve... Jesus sends out these Twelve after instructing them, thus, ‘Go to the lost sheep...’”

       St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit saint we commemorate today, exemplifies the true follower of Jesus, the Word Incarnate. He was not content in establishing the Jesuit Order and the Jesuit mission in Europe. His heart burned to go — to Asia, to India, to the largely unchartered paths of the East. So, one great way to honor Jesus this season is to go — and do something good for the people in the periphery. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Can you consider yourself an “outgoing Christian”? In what ways are you an “outgoing Christian”?

Lord Jesus, grant me courage to go out and do something for the people in the periphery. Amen.