The Parable Of The One Hundred Sheep

"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." - Matthew 18:12-14 

(The parable of the one hundred sheep is also found in the Gospel of Luke [15:1].  It teaches us several things: JESUS' special concern for sinners and those who stray and, therefore, the missionary dimension of HIS apostolate.  In fact, JESUS came "to seek and save the lost" [Luke 19:10], "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" [Matthew 9:13].  This attitude should impel our parishes and Christian communities to constantly reach out to the unchurched and marginalized, instead of just working with those who already are in touch with the Church.)

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Orchestra Of Praise To GOD, King Of The World

"Sing to YAHWEH a new song, for HE has done wonders; HIS right hand, HIS holy arm, has won victory for HIM.

YAHWEH has shown HIS salvation, revealing HIS justice to the nations.

HE has not forgotten HIS love, nor HIS faithfulness to Israel.  The farthest ends of the earth all have seen GOD's saving power.

All you lands, make a joyful noise to YAHWEH, break into song and sing praise, with melody of the lyre and with music of the harp."

- Psalm 98:1-4

(Our LORD founded the kingdom of GOD on earth; and yet we pray: 'YOUR kingdom come.'  The work of our redemption has been accomplished, but we still pray for this salvation, to be perfected throughout the world: GOD has come; but we look for HIS final coming, to take possession of HIS kingdom.

Sing to the LORD a new song.  Humanity has found the way to liberation and salvation.  It is in the coming of CHRIST, GOD-made-man and in HIS resurrection.

For the LORD came down to earth, showed us HIS love and also by HIS death and resurrection, the path to eternal salvation.)

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Grace And Fidelity

"And we know, that whatever was written in the past, was written for our instruction, for both perseverance and comfort, given us by the Scripture, sustain our hope.  May GOD, the source of all perseverance and comfort, give to all of you, to live in peace in CHRIST JESUS, that you may be able to praise, in one voice GOD, FATHER of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD.

Welcome, then, one another, as CHRIST welcomed you for the glory of GOD.  Look: CHRIST put HIMSELF at the service of the Jewish world, to fulfill the promises made by GOD to their ancestors; here, you see GOD's faithfulness.  The pagans, instead, give thanks to GOD for HIS mercy, as Scripture says: Because of that, I will sing and praise YOUR name among the pagans." - Romans 15:4-9 

(In this twofold attitude of GOD toward the Jews and the "nations," that is to say non-Jews, Paul sees a manifestation of the two great qualities that prophetic tradition attributes to GOD: grace and fidelity.  What Paul is saying here certainly goes beyond the case of Jews and non-Jews.  Two applications of this can be given.

First, for the Christian community.  As JESUS stated to the Pharisees, we know that no elitist group by itself constitutes JESUS' Church.  It can only be in the truth if it constantly has two groups, on one hand, those who have matured in fidelity, inheriting the faith and sacrifices of their parents and persevering in the community and on the other hand, those who come from the outside and who have undergone a strong personal conversion.  Naturally, this creates conflicts and it requires sacrifices from everyone but this is where GOD likes to work.

In addition, this text helps us to understand that GOD only reveals HIMSELF to a minority while at the same time, GOD was saving all human beings.)

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"This Is The Way, Walk In It."

"O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.  When you cry, HE will listen; when HE hears, HE will answer.

When the LORD has given you the bread of anguish and the water of distress, HE, your teacher will hide no longer.  Your own eyes will see HIM, and your ear will listen to HIS words behind you: 'This is the way, walk in it.'

You will see the uncleanliness of your idols and images overlaid with silver and gold.  You will throw them out like a menstrual cloth.  'Away with you then!' you will say to them.

HE will then give rain for the seed you sow and make the harvest abundant from the crops you grow.  On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures.  Your beasts of burden will eat silage tossed to them with pitchfork and shovel.

For on the day of the great slaughter, when fortresses fall, streams of water will flow on every mountain and lofty hill.

The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven times greater, like the light of seven days, when YAHWEH binds up the wounds of HIS people and heals the bruises inflicted by HIS blows." - Isaiah 30:19-26 

(GOD loves us and teaches us.  This poem speaks of all the marvels to be discovered when meeting GOD through tears.

You will see the uncleanliness of your idols.  People have become aware that they were serving false gods.  Idolatry does not only mean keeping carved gods, but more trusting people, serving institutions and envying the things that these images represent.)

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This People Honors ME With Words

"The LORD then said: 'This people say they are loyal to ME; they honor ME with lip-service, while their hearts stay afar.  The worship they offer ME is useless, these are no more than traditions and human rules.

Because of this I will surprise them once more; the wisdom of the wise will be useless and the understanding of their prudent men will be at a loss.'" - Isaiah 29:13-14 

(If we cease to be seekers of GOD, if we have not orientated our life to allow GOD to enter, our religion quickly becomes a collection of beliefs and practices similar to what all social groups have, which became like elements of a school program.  JESUS will recall it in Mark 7:6.)

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Song Of Victory

"On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city,

HE HIMSELF has set up

walls and fortifications to protect us.

Open the gates!

Let the righteous nation enter,

she who is firm in faithfulness.

You keep in perfect peace 

the one of steadfast mind,

the one who trusts in YOU.

Trust in YAHWEH forever,

for YAHWEH is an everlasting Rock.

HE brought down those who dwell on high,

HE laid low to the lofty city,

HE razed it to the ground,

leveled it to the dust,

Now it is trampled

the poor and the lowly tread upon it."

- Isaiah 26:1-6

(A thanksgiving to YAHWEH who has done away with the presence of the oppressor.  HIS citadel, installed, it would seem, in Jerusalem itself had been completely destroyed.)

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The Banquet Of The Elect

"On this mountain YAHWEH SABAOTH will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, fine wine strained.

On this mountain HE will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more.  The LORD YAHWEH will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; HE will take away the humiliation of HIS people all over the world:

for YAHWEH has spoken.

On that day you will say: This is our GOD.  We have waited for HIM to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in HIS salvation.  For on this mountain the hand of YAHWEH rests." - Isaiah 25:6-10 

(The text recalls that this victory is only one stage: the great hope is "the banquet of the elect" after the judgment when GOD will destroy death.  John will use these images in Revelation 7:17 and 21:4.)

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Little Ones Live Their Faith In Simple Ways But They Know That None Of Their Sacrifices Are Lost

"At that time, JESUS was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and said, 'I praise YOU, FATHER, LORD of heaven and earth, for YOU have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to little ones.  Yes, FATHER, such has been YOUR gracious will.  I have been given all things by MY FATHER, so that no one knows the Son except the FATHER, and no one knows the FATHER except the Son, and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal HIM.'

Then JESUS turned to HIS disciples and said to them privately, 'Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you, that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see, but did not see it; and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.'" - Luke 10:21-24 

(What are these things that GOD has revealed to the little ones but the mysterious power of the Gospel to transform people and show them the truth?  The apostles marvel at the power coming from the name of JESUS [Mark 16:17].  JESUS underlines the defeat of the Adversary, Satan.

The learned and the clever think they know, but do not know what is essential.  They speak of a GOD who is no more than a shadow of the true GOD as long as they do not recognize HIM in JESUS.  They do not know where the world is heading because they do not see GOD's power is working wherever JESUS is being proclaimed.

The little ones, on the other hand, have understood.  Before they saw themselves as a sacrificed generation.  For the little ones are used to sacrificing themselves for their children from generation to generation, or they are sacrificed by powers, under the pretext of bringing happiness to their descendants.  They did not live for themselves; rather they were preparing a place for others.  Now the little ones, namely, the humble believers, have everything if they have JESUS, the FATHER has given everything to HIM.

Little ones live their faith in simple ways but they know that none of their sacrifices are lost.  It is JESUS who reveals the FATHER to us and, knowing HIM in truth, we also share in HIS control over events.  Our desires and our prayers are powerful because we have come to the center from which GOD directs the forces saving humankind: because we work for eternity, our names are already written in heaven.

To evangelize does not mean to try to sell the Gospel but rather to prove its power to heal people from their demons.  We need not become activists in order to accomplish that.  We must admit that we have no power in these things and we must give thanks to GOD who enabled us to see, to hear and to communicate HIS salvation.

Fortunate are you to see... Stop being envious of famous people, kings and prophets of the past.  You who are alive now, and who are neither kings nor prophets, have been given the better part.)

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The Remnant

"On that day the Shoot of YAHWEH will be beautiful and glorious; and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor for the survivors of Israel.

Those who are left in Zion and remain in Jerusalem will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.

When the LORD washes away the filth of the women of Zion and purges Jerusalem of the bloodstains in its midst with the blast of searing judgment, the blast of fire.

Then will YAHWEH create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of fire by night.

For the glory of YAHWEH will be a canopy and a pavilion for all, a shade from the scorching heat by day, a refuge from the storm and rain." - Isaiah 4:2-6 

(In the turbulent history of nations, GOD allows a small and insignificant people to take shape.  From among them a chosen group called "Remnant" appears and takes root.  As a pyramid is gradually reduced to a point, so is this remnant reduced, until it becomes only one man, the Savior.  Here, HE is called the fruit of the earth.  HE is also called Shoot, because HE will be the sprout for the new humanity.

Notice here, as in 1:27, that the kingdom of GOD begins with a "judgment."  This means that human beings alone cannot build the lasting city.  Isaiah denounces at the same time the sin of individuals and the sin of the nation.  No nation can present itself as the kingdom of GOD on earth.  The Jewish people directed by the law of Moses, and the kingdom of David consecrated by GOD, only represented the first phase of sacred history.  They would have to give up their ambitions and their human limitations [a kingdom of GOD in Palestine!] to receive from GOD a new covenant: see Jeremiah 31:31.  It is CHRIST who judges the world [John 12:31] and who pardons its sins [John 20:22].

Also, as in 2:2, the kingdom of GOD is a place where GOD becomes present to HIS people: see the Cloud and the pillar of fire in Exodus 13:21.

Above Mount Zion which symbolizes the Church, GOD will be a shade from the scorching heat by day.

- HE will provide rest for the weary: "Come to ME and I will refresh you" [Matthew 11:28].

- The new trends in the world can harm the unwary and the isolated but not those who live in the church community.

It seems however, that only a small remnant is assembled there on Mt. Zion.  Let us not say that only a small number of the elect [in which we number of course], will be saved for eternity.  It is better to say that the Church in this world will always seem to be a small remnant; likewise in what is called the Church or people of GOD, only a small number will live the promises of GOD [Luke 12:32].) 

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Let Us Discard Everything That Belongs To Darkness, And Let Us Put On The Armor Of Light

"You know what hour it is.  This is the time to awake, for our salvation is, now, nearer than when we first believed; the night is almost over, and day is at hand.  Let us discard, therefore, everything that belongs to darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  As we live in the full light of day, let us behave with decency; no banquets with drunkenness, no promiscuity or licentiousness, no fighting or jealousy.  Put on, rather, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and do not be led by the will of the flesh nor follow its desires." - Romans 13:11-14 

(You know what hour it is.  This is the time to awake.  Paul was just recalling the duties of a Christian in this world and he already turns to the opposite direction: beware of settling down in this world.  The Christian is always awaiting the coming of CHRIST.

During the first thirty years of the Church, all waited for the imminent return of JESUS.  When it became clear to them that history was being extended, they began thinking more of each one's last end: it was then that they would meet CHRIST.  In the present century we have come to realize that history is going towards an end and that we not only have to be ready for the last hour, but that we must also work for the evangelization of the world.  The Gospel is the power that, directly or indirectly, brings all human history to maturity; by living holy and responsible lives we hasten the coming of the kingdom of GOD [2 Peter 3:11-12].)

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