The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe | Tuesday 12 December 2023

Today is Tuesday the 12th of December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the second week of Advent.


Paul Zach sings, ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’.

The Lord is my shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want
He leads my soul by the still waters
In the green pastures I am restored
Though I may walk through the dark valley
Of the shadow of death
I will not fear for your rod and staff comfort me
Goodness and mercy they will follow me
All of the days all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever and ever




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 18:12-14

What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

Picture this shepherd now with his sheep… rather than being in a neat, enclosed field, the shepherd Jesus tells us about is up on the mountains with his sheep.

Imagine the terrain; although these sheep may be sure footed, they will experience danger: such extremes of heat, rain, cold, prowling wild animals, or risk of falling from great heights.

Imagine one of these sheep wandering away from the flock, completely out of the shepherd’s sight.

The season of Advent presents us with an opportunity to come home to God. Can you identify ways in which you feel lost or separated from God?

As you hear the reading again, imagine the shepherd searching on the mountain for his lost sheep, calling out to them.

Picture now the shepherd as he finds the lost sheep. What is their reunion like?

How does he express his joy?

You may like to ask Jesus the shepherd to bring you home, as you come more fully into his loving presence.

Let him welcome you now.

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel.
Come, Lord Jesus.