Heaven is glad and the earth rejoices

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the church, by Father Perry.

+ And God says to Jerusalem: “Hey, I’ve got some good, good news for you. You are forgiven. All is reconciled. Guilt be gone! In fact, you can go up on the mountain and proclaim it to all. You are healed. You are whole once again!”

And for the second time this Advent — and as recently as two days ago — we hear again of God’s “major construction” — God’s “highway to heaven.”

When we repent and when God showers us with his mercy, everything is changed.

To experience healing forgiveness — to receive it and/or to offer it to another — brings “soulfulness” into our lives; we are “made new.”

Another way to say it is expressed in Matthew‘s Gospel today.

It is like a sheep that gets lost and the shepherd goes out to find that little sheep. And whoa! That shepherd will rejoice and be glad.

In fact, although the story doesn’t say it, perhaps the other 99 who did not go astray might be a little jealous.

Why is our shepherd so happy about that rascal sheep who got lost, and the shepherd had to go out there searching high and low to find that li’l lamb?

Why wasn’t the shepherd mad rather than glad?

Well this is what you might call good news.

And the word of God is filled with it. So much so, the responsorial psalm tells us to “sing a new song to the Lord” who comes with power, who rules with justice, who does many “wondrous deeds.”

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.