"Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!"
Isaiah 40:9
Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Ambrose, who was a respected bishop in the early church, and an inspiration to many – including a young St. Augustine who had not yet committed to Christianity! For Augustine, and many others, St. Ambrose was the definition of a good shepherd. Typically, for memorials such as today the priest can choose whether to have the readings of the day or the readings of the particular saint. But interestingly enough, no matter what is chosen today, the congregation hears of a good shepherd – not Ambrose, but the man who was his inspiration – Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus is The Good Shepherd. He seeks out the lost, He speaks comfort to His people, He leads His flock with care. And He is coming! So prepare a way for the Lord with joy in your heart. As the readings tell us today, “Fear not…Here is your God!” He is The Good Shepherd, and longs to bring us back to Him. So let us listen to His voice today, and rejoice!
Where is The Good Shepherd leading me in this Advent journey?
Lord Jesus, help us to hear your voice today, and rejoice!
Today’s Reflection is by:
Fr. Lou Turcotte
Did you know...
Fr. Lou Turcotte grew up in Clearwater, attending Light of Christ Catholic Church with his parents and two sisters. He is an alumnus of St. Cecelia Interparochial School, Clearwater High, and the University of Florida, where he graduated with a degree in Marketing. Inspired by many priestly role models, he felt the LORD pulling him to discern the priesthood, and after an exciting, challenging, and transformative 7 years of seminary education, he was ordained a priest in 2018. After serving at St. Timothy in Lutz for two years, he now enjoys the beautiful waters of St. Raphael in St. Petersburg. His passions include national parks, aquariums, Chick-fil-A, Liverpool Football Club, and encountering
