St Nick

Isaiah 40:1-11; Ps 96 Th Lord our God comes with Power; Mt 18:12-14

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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Nick, the bishop of the 4th century that was known for his charity. It was on this day growing up that we children in the Berger home would rise real early for we knew there would be a special treat for us on the table.

When we entered the kitchen, there would be 12 bowls laid out overflowing with candy, chocolate and otherwise. We would quickly select the bowl we thought held the most candy in it and then go hide it so the our siblings wouldn't get their fingers on it.

Funny thing about this reality. We were supposed to have learned about charity and giving and yet we all were a little bit selfish in receiving, wanting ours and not wanting others to take from us what we received.

I guess we are all that way at moments. We can all be a bit greedy with the gifts we receive never realizing or realizing only later that it is a gift undeserved and how foolish it is to claim it as our own when we all know gifts are meant to be given not hoarded.

Our PArents tried to teach us that charity is sweet. Good ole St. Nick, may he continue to intercede for us that we may learn how to generously receive and thus generously give in return.

Here are a few words from Pope BEnedict concerning John the Baptist

"Therefore, John’s appeal goes far beyond and deeper than a call to a sober lifestyle: it is a call for inner change, starting with the recognition and confession of our sins. As we prepare for Christmas, it is important that we find time for self contemplation and carry out an honest assessment of our lives. May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is "the Greatest" and made himself small, he who is "the Strongest" but became weak."


We look to the gospel today and Jesus asks for the "opinion" of his disciples. We are his disciples so perhaps he is asking us what is our opinion.

What do you think about this shepherd who leaves the 99 to search for the one who strays? Before you think about that notice that the JEsus tells us that the shepherd leaves the 99 in the hills, that is on the heights.

The shepherd doesn't abandon the 99 recklessly but rather he makes sure they are safe and sound; they are away from the wolves in the valley. In the hills, on the heights close to the heavens.

Only then does he search diligently so that he might bring the stray upward as well. In deed the one who strays is the one who goes down but in Christ we are all raised to new heights and thus given a cause to rejoice.

JEsus always brings us up, lifts us high, raises us to the Father.

The one who is from on high comes low to us so that w eight be raised, elevated to new kind of living and loving.

This beautiful story truly encapsulates the incarnation, the one on high comes low so that we who are lowly can be raised and in being raised the heavens rejoice.

As Isaiah proclaims, "in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care."


Have you been raised lately? Have you been carried in his arms? If so then rejoice and remember do not entertain false joys always keep your joy real.