It is 10th December 2019. The readings are from Isaiah 40:1-11; and the Gospel from Matthew 18:12-14. Difficulties are to come in our lives but it is easily bearable when we have hope in someone or something. It becomes all the more easier and bearable when God becomes our hope. In every occasion in the salvation history, we witnessed God repeatedly shows compassion and consoles God’s people. Indeed, compassion is the face and name of God. In the first reading the Prophet Isaiah highlights the quality of God as a caring and affectionate God. “God is like a shepherd feeding his flock, in his arms he gathers the lambs. Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” (Is.40:11). To enjoy such favour and love from the Lord, we need to repent. Our first priority must become God and God’s Word. We cannot go on in this life without the power and guidance of the Word of God. Nothing can hold us together except the Word of God that unites us and purify us. We need to strive forward to find peace and lasting joy in the Word that made flesh. The responsorial Verse praises, “The Lord our God comes with power.” (Is.40:10). Our God is so loving and compassionate that He wants no one to be lost. The compassion of God visibly shown in the finding the lost sheep by Jesus. We are unique and so significant for God. There is no one is unimportant and useless to God whether we have forgotten God, refused to accept salvation offered by Jesus still we are sought after with a loving heart of Jesus. No matter what we do yet we are all children of God. “Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.” (Is.49:15f). God consoles us and comforts us not by giving and pampering like some of our parents do but rather training us to love and respond affectionately by allowing us to have freewill and freedom to make our own choices. “It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” (Mt.18:14). The Advent is the time to be found by God or to find God. It is the joyful time to return to the Lord without fear and shame. It is indeed the moment of embrace and grace of our God. “Come let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up.” (Hos.6:1). Let us be assured of the warm of God that envelops our bruised limbs. “My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy you; for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in anger.” (Hos.11:8). May we make amends for anything we have left out wilfully. It is indeed time to repent of our sinful life hoping God who consoles us will never forget us. May you have a day of blessings and may God bless you.