Prepare - To Be Found

BEADS OF JOY 12-11-12 “PREPARE – To Be Found”
©2012 James Dacey, Jr. OFS

My Friends,

Isn’t the Season of Advent most beautiful? Little rhyme… (The cold brisk air, we can see our breath when we speak; as the snow refreshes and brightens our days. The joy that fills the air, we can’t compare; for it is Jesus who is on His way. How true it is, that a baby child always brings such joy; a smile, a giggle, the cute little smile of a baby girl or boy.) We are waiting, as we PREPARE for the arrival of a most precious child. Jesus wants us to embrace Him. In my own reflection I see that Christmas also represents a time that we must hold Jesus. PREPARE to hold Him my friends. He isn’t a child, He isn’t a teenager, He isn’t an adult; rather He is an infant, an infant must be held. PREPARE to hold him my sisters and brothers, love Him and embrace Him. Hold Him and never ever let Him go!!!

Today’s gospel can be found in Matthew 18:12-14 (The Parable of The Lost Sheep). There is no doubt; the shepherd was filled with grief and hopelessness in the thought that he lost one of his sheep. Like Jesus seeks our hearts and lives and looks of us; He continually and persistently hunted and looked for the one who is lost. Knowing that the others where fine and strong and wouldn’t stray; he kept looking for that one lost sheep. Jesus places tremendous value on each and every one of us; there is no limit to how feverously He will seek us.

Let us think of the dangers of being a lost sheep. Sheep can become easy prey once they become distant from the flock; especially if there is no shepherd anywhere insight. Fear also comes upon a sheep that can easily be trapped in a situation with no escape. Isolation from those who love us can be scary; especially when we are in grave danger, and our inner most gut tells us, this is bad. Surrounding ourselves with like-minded people and those we love and those who love us; secure our surroundings. We must PREPARE to always be on alert, not to stray. Let us PREPARE our hearts and our minds and our values; along with a community by our side, to strengthen our Spirit and to help strengthen each other.

“Jesus, I Trust in You.”

Your Brother in Christ Jesus
and His Most Precious Mother Mary,
Jimmy (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS