Shepherds of Christ  
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January 11, 2010

January 12th Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 6 Period II.

The Novena Rosary Mysteries  
for January 12th are Sorrowful.

  
  

China Retreat

January 10th - 13th

Please come & pray with us!
 

 

Monday - January 11th

Mass - 12 noon

1:30pm & 6:20pm sessions
 

 

Tuesday - January 12th

Retreat - 10:00am Rita

Mass - 12 noon

1:00pm - 2:00pm Rita

6:20pm prayers as usual

 
Wednesday - January 13th

12:00 - 13th Service

Mass - 2:00pm

   

Please pray for a special intention.

         

 

                Given January 10, 2010

 

   

Ephesians 4: 25-32

So from now on, there must be no more lies. Speak the truth to one another, since we are all parts of one another. Even if you are angry, do not sin: never let the sun set on your anger or else you will give the devil a foothold. Anyone who was a thief must stop stealing; instead he should exert himself at some honest job with his own hands so that he may have something to share with those in need. No foul word should ever cross your lips; let your words be for the improvement of others, as occasion offers, and do good to your listeners; do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal, ready for the day when we shall be set free. Any bitterness or bad temper or anger or shouting or abuse must be far removed from you-as must every kind of malice. Be generous to one another, sympathetic, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.

 

                We can pray to ourselves, instead of
                    praying to God —

                We must empty ourselves of the self-focus
                    we want to be filled with His life — 

 

Prayer for Union with Jesus

Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.

    I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.

    I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.

    When I worry, I have taken my focus off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.

-God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994

   

                Let go now — of those things that hold us
                    bound — we can say it's a little
                    thing — it's a big thing if it
                    stops us from doing God's will

                If it keeps us seeing through our
                    eyes and acting in wounded patterns from
                    the past and not seeing through God's eyes
                    it is a big block

   

  1. Romans 8: 14-17
    1. All who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God; for what you received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the Spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, 'Abba, Father!' The Spirit himself joins with our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God. And if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, provided that we share his suffering, so as to share his glory.

  2.  
  1. 1 John 4: 17-21
    1. Love comes to its perfection in us when we can face the Day of Judgement fearlessly, because even in this world we have become as he is. In love there is no room for fear, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear implies punishment and no one who is afraid has come to perfection in love. Let us love, then, because he first loved us. Anyone who says 'I love God' and hates his brother, is a liar, since whoever does not love the brother whom he can see cannot love God whom he has not seen. Indeed this is the commandment we have received from him, that whoever loves God, must also love his brother.

   

                We must be poor in spirit — ready to
                    be filled by God —
                    not full of self —
                    not filled with what the devil wants
                        us to hold onto —

                We should mourn for the sin in the
                    world today — abortion — gay marriages —
                    we cry in our hearts to God for the sins in
                    the world — sorrow in our hearts for sin, for
                    offenses against God — We want to
                    make reparation to Him

                Not have a silly grin on our face, but love for
                    God and our brothers in our hearts —
                    real love — not fake love

                We want that love for peace and truth —
                    found only in God —

                Beneath our face is the real joy
                    of purity in our hearts —
                    Our focus serving God —
                    Our focus loving God —
                    Our focus doing God's will —
                    Not self-consciousness
                    Not fear that we project on others

                We have that intimate oneness of
                    being IN Him —

                To be made empty — is our goal —
                    empty of impurities —
                    empty of sin —
                    empty of vices
                    empty of bad habits —
                    so we can be filled with His grace —
                    so we can live the virtues of faith,
                        hope and love —

                Filled more and more with His
                    abundant life —

                I love You God —

                I want to be filled by You —

                I thirst for Thee

                Song: I Love You Jesus

                "The meek shall inherit the earth"

                Meek means — not combattal
                                        not fighting

                Jesus, the Sacred Heart — meek and
                    tender of Heart —

                Christ is meek in Heart
                So generous is God —

                Jesus giving us Himself on the cross —
                Jesus coming to the earth —
                Jesus taking on flesh
                Jesus giving us Himself in the Eucharist —

                "Blessed are the pure of heart for they will
                    see God"

                "Blessed are the righteous"

                One little bird lagged behind the others —
                    dawdling —
                    Do we really take time to ponder and
                        be with Jesus — examining our
                        conscience and seeing where we need
                        to change to have — pure hearts —
                        to have meek hearts, righteousness —

                Time like the little bird to dawdle
                    behind a while and love the
                    intimacy of God within us —
                    in this lies our power —

                Power is in Him —

                See the birds of the air — how they
                    flutter about — so free of
                    worry —
                    how the lilies of the field are
                        cared for —

                Be simple — focus on the presence
                    of God — Be like little children —

                Blessed are the peacemakers —

                The ones who want to please God —
                The ones who want what He wants —

                Not seeing selfish power for themselves —
                    living to follow
                                FOLLOW
                                FOLLOW - God's Plan

                Wanting God's will — having our
                    peace in this — knowing
                    I live to do God's will in love —

                Freedom is found in doing God's will —
                    in being people of peace

                If a person is bound up — they cannot
                    move —

                One strap across one's leg or arm
                    can cause a lot of immobility —

                God calls us to deeper life
                    in Him —

                To be free — to cut the things
                    that hold us bound —

                    Sin — inordinate attachments keep
                us from this intimacy we want
                with God

                    Fr. Carter stopped twice a day
                and examined his conscience —

                    Thanking God for the gifts —
                taking our spiritual pulse one
                Jesuit called it -

                Life in Him
                Life in the Spirit

                Spiritual life 'IN' us —

     

1 Corinthians 15: 29-58

    Otherwise, what are people up to who have themselves baptised on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, what is the point of being baptised on their behalf? And what about us? Why should we endanger ourselves every hour of our lives? I swear by the pride that I take in you, in Christ Jesus our Lord, that I face death every day. If I fought wild animals at Ephesus in a purely human perspective, what had I to gain by it? If the dead are not going to be raised, then Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall be dead. So do not let anyone lead you astray, 'Bad company corrupts good ways.' Wake up from your stupor as you should and leave sin alone; some of you have no understanding of God; I tell you this to instil some shame in you.

Someone may ask: How are dead people raised, and what sort of body do they have when they come? How foolish! What you sow must die before it is given new life; and what you sow is not the body that is to be, but only a bare grain, of wheat I dare say, or some other kind; it is God who gives it the sort of body that he has chosen for it, and for each kind of seed its own kind of body. 

    Not all flesh is the same flesh: there is human flesh; animals have another kind of flesh, birds another and fish yet another. Then there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; the heavenly have a splendour of their own, and the earthly a different splendour. The sun has its own splendour, the moon another splendour, and the stars yet another splendour; and the stars differ among themselves in splendour. It is the same too with the resurrection of the dead: what is sown is perishable, but what is raised is imperishable; what is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; what is sown is weak, but what is raised is powerful; what is sown is a natural body, and what is raised is a spiritual body. 

    If there is a natural body, there is a spiritual body too. So the first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; and the last Adam has become a life–giving spirit. But first came the natural body, not the spiritual one; that came only afterwards. The first man, being made of earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. The earthly man is the pattern for earthly people, the heavenly man for heavenly ones. And as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so we shall bear the likeness of the heavenly one. 

    What I am saying, brothers, is that mere human nature cannot inherit the kingdom of God: what is perishable cannot inherit what is imperishable. Now I am going to tell you a mystery: we are not all going to fall asleep, but we are all going to be changed, instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet sounds. The trumpet is going to sound, and then the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed, because this perishable nature of ours must put on imperishability, this mortal nature must put on immortality.

And after this perishable nature has put on imperishability and this mortal nature has put on immortality, then will the words of scripture come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin comes from the Law. Thank God, then, for giving us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

    So, my dear brothers, keep firm and immovable, always abounding in energy for the Lord’s work, being sure that in the Lord none of your labours is wasted.

        

Luke 4: 18-21

and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, 'This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening.'

 

                Peace — seeking the TRUTH —
                    for TRUTH is in
                    Jesus —

                Blessed are those persecuted for Jesus' —
                    sake —

                Blessed are we who walk in His
                    footsteps —

                Whose hearts are like the New
                    Adam and the New Eve —

                Who are like Mary and Jesus —

                Who have given their hearts —
                    the wounded hearts to Jesus
                    and Mary — to be made more and
                    more whole —

                Blessed are we who are like Mary —
                She was filled with the Holy Spirit and
                    she gave us this

 

Luke 1: 46-55

And Mary said:

My soul proclaims
    the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices
    in God my Saviour;
because he has looked upon
    the humiliation of his servant.
Yes, from now onwards
    all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty
    has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his faithful love extends age after age
    to those who fear him.
He has used the power of his arm,
he has routed the arrogant of heart.
He has pulled down princes
    from their thrones
        and raised high the lowly.
He has filled the starving with good things,
    sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the help
    of Israel his servant,
        mindful of his faithful love
—according to the promise
    he made to our ancestors—
of his mercy to Abraham
    and to his descendants for ever.

   

 

                The devil wants our hearts closed —
                    wounded —
                    "you hurt me" — you say
                    projection to innocent others

                We don't know what God is teaching
                    us in His Word — in the Church —

                God has called us — it is our response —

                Response to God's love
                Response to God's call —

                If we think we know it all and live
                    in our wounded human nature
                    dominating us —
                    we will teach only ourselves —

                We must discipline ourselves
                    not to give into this —

                So we spread the Good News —
                So we are disciples of Jesus —
                    always learning —
                    always open

                The devil can press down —
                    "oh, you hurt my feelings" and we
                    can miss all the teaching God
                    gives us — the more we 'close
                    down' and 'stay stuck' —
                    the easier it is for satan to manipulate
                    us —

                like the strap across our arm and leg and
                    becoming more and more enslaved
                    to satan by 'closing down' instead
                    of learning because we give
                    into our wounded emotions

                Satan is the master at trying to get
                    people to project their wounds
                    on innocent others —

                    Satan works in pride
                    Satan works in trying to get them
                        to seek dominance for
                        dominance sake —

                Now Sing: Holy is His Name —

                The Holy Spirit in filling Mary tells us
                    in the Magnificat how to be
                    like Mary as she speaks —

                It becomes easier to be enslaved
                    to satan — the more we
                    give into pride, riches, affections

                Jesus promises us great things
                    for meekness and lowliness of
                    heart —
  
 

Matthew 5: 1-12

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was
seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is
what he taught them:

How blessed are the poor in spirit:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle:
they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those
   who hunger and thirst for uprightness:
they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
they shall be recognised
   as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
   in the cause of uprightness:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and
speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this
is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

 

                Jesus called the prophets to deliver
                    a message —
                    Jesus had enemies
                    God is good —

                Our hearts are to not give into evil
                    but to be good
                        to be humble
                        to be lowly in heart

               

Prayer from St. Ignatius

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To labor and not to ask for any reward,
Save that of knowing
                    that I am doing your will.

 

        Prayer of St Ignatius

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Permit me not to be separated from Thee
From the wicked foe defend me
at the hour of my death call me
and bid me come to Thee
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee
For ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

Birth of John the Baptist

Jeremiah 1: 4-10   

The call of Jeremiah

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:

 ‘Before I formed you in the womb
     I knew you;
  before you came to birth 
     I consecrated you; 
  I appointed you as prophet to the nations.’

  I then said, ‘Ah, ah, ah, Lord Yahweh;
you see, I do not know how to speak: I am only a child!’

  But Yahweh replied,
‘Do not say, "I am only a child,"
 for you must go to all to whom I send you
 and say whatever I command you.
 Do not be afraid of confronting them,
 for I am with you to rescue you,
 Yahweh declares.’

  Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth,
and Yahweh said to me:

  ‘There! I have put my words
      into your mouth.
    Look, today I have set you 
   over the nations and kingdoms,
   to uproot and to knock down,
   to destroy and to overthrow,
   to build and to plant.’

   

Isaiah 49: 1-6

Coasts and islands, listen to me,
pay attention, distant peoples.
Yahweh called me when I was in the womb,
before my birth
    he had pronounced my name. 
He made my mouth like a sharp sword, 
he hid me in the shadow of his hand. 
He made me into a sharpened arrow 
and concealed me in his quiver. 
He said to me, ‘Israel, you are my servant, 
through whom I shall manifest my glory.’ 
But I said, ‘My toil has been futile, 
I have exhausted myself for nothing, 
    to no purpose.’ 
Yet all the while 
    my cause was with Yahweh 
and my reward with my God. 
And now Yahweh has spoken, 
who formed me in the womb 
    to be his servant, 
to bring Jacob back to him 
and to re–unite Israel to him;
—I shall be honoured in Yahweh’s eyes, 
and my God has been my strength.— 
He said, ‘It is not enough for you 
    to be my servant, 
to restore the tribes of Jacob 
    and bring back the survivors of Israel; 
I shall make you a light to the nations 
so that my salvation may reach 
    the remotest parts of earth.    

 

Luke 1: 57-66, 80

The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, they shared her joy.

Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. ‘No,’ she said, ‘he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘But no one in your family has that name,’ and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing–tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day he appeared openly to Israel.

 

June 24, 2007

INTRODUCTION: We are mostly familiar with John the Baptist from the readings during Advent, as John was the prophet who immediately preceded Jesus and foretold his coming.  His birthday is June 24, which usually falls on a weekday. It is considered an important feast, so important in fact that when it falls on Sunday, it takes precedence over the Sunday readings.  For those who like to follow the readings in the red Worship book, they are 1038 (eve) or 1039 (day).  If you are curious why the feast of his birth is today, consider this. When the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary, the archangel told her that her cousin Elizabeth was already in her sixth month.  The church figured that John’s birth had to have been six months before the birth of Jesus.  So, Christmas is six months away.

The liturgy usually puts the feast days of saints on the day they died and entered into eternal life.  Only three birthdays are celebrated: John the Baptist, Mary the mother of Jesus and Jesus himself.  This is because their birth is considered especially holy since they were born free from any sin. 

[at 4:00] (Vigil) (Jer 1:4-10; Luke 1: 5-17)

Our first reading is from Jeremiah, a prophet who lived 600 years before Christ.  The reading describes the role of a prophet as was John the Baptist. It is a fitting description of John.

The gospel is the annunciation to John’s father, the old priest Zechariah, that he and his elderly wife would have a child, a special child who would prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah.

[at 8:00 and 10:00] (Isa 49: 1-6; Luke 1: 57-66, 80)

In today’s first reading, the prophet Second Isaiah, who lived about 500 years before Christ, speaks of some mysterious person who was identified simply as God's servant.  This poem and three others in Isaiah’s writings are known as Servant Songs.  The early Church found these songs described Jesus in a most uncanny way.  They are usually read during Holy Week.  Today, however, the liturgy applies this second of the Servant Songs to John the Baptist because it states: “the Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.”  

When the archangel Gabriel had appeared to John’s father Zachariah nine months earlier, he told him his wife Elizabeth would have a son and he was to be named John.  Zachariah and Elizabeth were an older couple and Zachariah didn’t believe the angel.  Not smart!  He lost the ability to speak because of his lack of faith.  (It’s like the angel would not allow him to speak out his doubts but to keep his lack of faith to himself.)  We hear in the gospel how Zachariah’s ability to speak returned once John was born.

HOMILY: Since I gave a long introduction, I do not have a very long sermon. Or as Henry VIII said to his third wife, “I will not keep you long.”   One of Aesop’s most famous fables is the story of the ant and the grasshopper. 

The story goes like this:

In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content.  An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil a kernel of corn he was taking to the nest.  “Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”  “I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”  “Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present.”  But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.  When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.  Then the Grasshopper knew: “It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.” 

Solid, practical, down to earth wisdom from 2500 years ago!  It’s still true.  If we do not learn this lesson when life is good, we’ll regretfully learn it when it’s too late.  This goes for education, investing, health and all kinds of important areas of life.  John the Baptist’s role in life was to insist on the need to prepare.  He called people to repent and prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom.  His message is as important today as it ever was.  There is a kind of new age theology that follows the attitude of the Grasshopper.  It says don’t worry.  We’re all going to heaven.  We’ll all be happy in the end.  God wants all people to be saved, as St. Paul tells us, but there are abundant passages in every part of the Scriptures that warn us that salvation is not a given.  There are things that are necessary for salvation and things that will prevent our salvation.  The gentle, loving Jesus, who revealed to us so clearly the love of God, warned us: “The door to heaven is narrow.  Work hard to get in, because many will try to enter and will not be able.”  (Luke 13,23)  Jesus, too, like John the Baptist called us to repentance and conversion of heart.  I think the most important lesson we can learn from this feast of John the Baptist is to prepare.  The fact you are here today is one good sign that you understand the need to prepare.  If you want some more specific ideas, the insert in today’s bulletin about love of God might give you a few good ideas on how to prepare better.  Amen.

   

 

                January 11, 2010

Luminous Mysteries

 

                Baptism of Jesus

                (1) Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7

Here is my servant whom I uphold, 
my chosen one 
    in whom my soul delights. 
I have sent my spirit upon him, 
he will bring fair judgement to the nations. 
He does not cry out or raise his voice, 
his voice is not heard in the street; 
he does not break the crushed reed 
or snuff the faltering wick. 
Faithfully he presents fair judgement; 
he will not grow faint, 
    he will not be crushed 
until he has established 
    fair judgement on earth, 
and the coasts and islands 
    are waiting for his instruction.  

I, Yahweh, have called you 
    in saving justice, 
I have grasped you by the hand 
    and shaped you; 
I have made you a covenant of the people 
and light to the nations, 
to open the eyes of the blind, 
to free captives from prison, 
and those who live in darkness 
    from the dungeon. 

                (2)

Baptism of the Lord

January 8, 2007 

INTRODUCTION: Today’s first reading is closely connected with Jesus’ baptism.  This first reading was written over 500 years before Christ.  It is a mysterious passage in that scholars do not know who the prophet was writing about.  But in hindsight, we can see how perfectly Jesus fulfilled this description of God's servant.  The words that introduce our first reading are directly connected with the account of Jesus’ baptism.  In our first reading God introduces his servant in this way: “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am well pleased.”  And it is on this servant that God has put his spirit.  God's words at Jesus’ baptism are almost exactly the same except for one word that is changed.  At Jesus’ baptism,  God speaks of Jesus as his Son.  And upon Jesus God the Father sends the Spirit.  We have here something more than just an introduction of God's Son to the world and his being empowered by the Spirit.  The words of the Father also gave direction to Jesus’ future work.  Jesus was being called for the victory of justice.  He was to be a covenant of the people, a light for the nations as described in this servant passage from Isaiah.   

                (3) Acts 10: 34-38

Then Peter addressed them, ‘I now really understand’, he said, ‘that God has no favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

    ‘God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ—he is the Lord of all. You know what happened all over Judaea, how Jesus of Nazareth began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.

                (4) Matthew 3: 13-17

Then Jesus appeared: he came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him, with the words, ‘It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that uprightness demands.’ Then John gave in to him. 

    And when Jesus had been baptised he at once came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And suddenly there was a voice from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’

                (5) Guiding Light - Feed My Soul - Cycle C Homilies - by Fr. Joe Robinson - Homily Baptism of the Lord

HOMILY: The baptism of John the Baptist was a baptism of repentance.  Jesus was God's Son, human like us in every way, except he was without sin.  Why would he present himself for baptism by John?  If you are confused about the baptism of Jesus you are in good company.  The early Church was confused and somewhat uncomfortable about it.  St. Matthew reports John saying to Jesus “I ought to be baptized by you, yet you come to me.”  St. Luke, as we heard in today’s gospel, hardly mentions the baptism itself.  And St. John in his gospel makes only an indirect reference to it.  Yet all the gospels as well as the Acts of the Apostles know that it happened, but they struggled to understand it. 

Jesus did not have sin to repent of, so John’s baptism had no relevance in this regard.  One approach to understanding this event is to see it as a clarification of who Jesus is.  He is God's Son, his beloved, with whom the Father is well pleased.  There would be no question about Jesus’ identity.   Jesus’ identity had already been revealed to us in Luke’s gospel when the angel told Mary at the annunciation that she would conceive her child through the power of the Holy Spirit and he would be holy and would be called Son of God.  Jesus’ identity was also revealed when Jesus was lost in the temple for three days and when he was found he said to his parents:  “why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know I must be in my Father’s house?”  But his identity was hidden from everyone around them.  It was only when Jesus was baptized and God announced to the world “This is my beloved Son” and the Spirit came down upon him that the world was to know who he was. 

                (6) Guiding Light - Feed My Soul - Cycle C Homilies - by Fr. Joe Robinson - Homily Baptism of the Lord continues

Our baptism gives us our identity too.  It tells us: we are God's child, sharing God's life, beloved by the Father and called to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to our heavenly Father.  So often we forget who we are and that we are God's beloved.  The advertising media is constantly telling us we don’t measure up, we’re not worthwhile.  We’re not as beautiful, as shapely, as energetic, as stylish, as popular, as successful, as wonderful, as happy as we should be.  But do not despair!  The ads tell us the product they happen to be promoting will make everything better.  It will solve our problems and make us over into someone worthwhile.

God has already made us someone worthwhile.  He first made us in his image and likeness.  More than that he has given us his life.  He has made us his beloved son or daughter.  Archbishop Tutu, the Anglican bishop from South Africa, says he always preaches one message to his people there.  His message is simple and he repeats it over and over again.  It is that “God loves you.”  “I tell them that,” he says, “because the entire culture tells them that they are unlovable, and I have to give them the message of who they really are, because God loves them.” 

                (7) Guiding Light - Feed My Soul - Cycle C Homilies - by Fr. Joe Robinson - Homily Baptism of the Lord continues

Through baptism we have been defined forever as God's children and the only one who can deface or destroy that dignity that has been given to us is we, ourselves.   

But, Jesus’ baptism not only clarified for all the world who Jesus was, but it also gave Jesus his mission.  He was to be a covenant of the people and a light for the nations.  Especially he was called to establish justice on the earth.  Justice here means “righteousness,” fidelity to God, goodness, living up to what we know God wants of us.  Who we are should define how we live .  If a person is a policeman, he or she is to work to uphold the law.  If a person is a doctor, he or she has a concern about people’s health.  If a person is a teacher, he or she is oriented toward helping people grow in wisdom and knowledge.  If we are God's child, we are called to live up to that dignity.  And in trying to live up to that dignity, who better could we imitate than the perfect Son of God, with whom the Father was well pleased.    

As we celebrate Jesus’ baptism, may we at the same time celebrate our own.  May we rejoice in God's gift of love and life given to us, and may we live up to the high dignity with which God has blessed us. 

(8) Excerpt from January 10, 2009

                The baptized person is lifted up to a higher
                    form of life —
                    reborn to a higher life
                    "You are my beloved child, on you my favor rests"
                    Baptism is a sharing in His Divine Life

                At our baptism the heavens were opened
                    up for us

                We are a child of God —

                When a child is born — there is a lot of work
                    ahead for parents before the child is
                    mature

                Birth and Baptism — only the beginning —

                Baptism gives us a sharing in His Divine Life —

                Our knowing and loving capacity is elevated —

                The Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwell in the graced,
                    baptized soul.

(9) Excerpt from January 10, 2009

                Through the sacraments Jesus Christ unites
                    us to Himself —
                    This union becomes deeper and deeper
                        with the increase of grace —

                    We are growing in this intimacy
                        in greater holiness in Him.

                    Christ gives us the sacraments —
                    Christ is with us in our lives
                        helping us and strengthening
                        us —

                    We are filled more and more with His
                        Divine life —
                        more and more abundantly —

                    We are filled more and more the more
                        we receive the Eucharist —

                The more we are before the Blessed
                    Eucharist in adoration —

(10) Excerpt from January 10, 2009

                Through the waters of Baptism —
                    Christ washes away sin and gives
                    us a new life in God —

                By Baptism Christ unites us to
                    Himself and gives us the grace
                    he merited by His life, death
                    and resurrection —

                In Baptism Jesus joins us to
                    His mystical Body — 

John 3: 3-6

 Jesus answered:

    In all truth I tell you,
    no one can see the kingdom of God
    without being born from above.

Nicodemus said, ‘How can anyone who is already old be born? Is it possible to go back into the womb again and be born?’ Jesus replied:

    In all truth I tell you,
    no one can enter the kingdom of God
    without being born
       through water and the Spirit;
    what is born of human nature is human;
   what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
   

Matthew 28: 18-20

... Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

   

                In Baptism
                    Christ gives us a new life, a sharing in His life —
                        and makes us adopted children of God.
                        He welcomes us into a life of
                        intimacy with the Persons of the
                        Blessed Trinity: Father, Son and
                        Holy Spirit.  

1 John 3: 1

You must see what great love
the Father has lavished on us
by letting us be called God's children-
which is what we are!
The reason why the world
    does not acknowledge us
is that it did not acknowledge him.

   

                Christ also gives us powers which enable
                    us to act as children of God
                    and in this sharing in His life —

                Christ removes sins

Romans 6: 14

 and then sin will no longer have any power over you—you are living not under law, but under grace.

 

                'The grace received at Baptism
                    remedies the "graceless"
                    condition of the soul called
                    original sin.'

                Christ also takes away personal sin
                    and the punishment due to them,
                    when the recipient is properly
                    disposed —

                Christ unites us to Himself and to
                    the members of His Mystical
                    Body —

Ephesians 4: 4-6

There is one Body, one Spirit, just as one hope is the goal of your calling by God. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

 

Colossians 1: 24

It makes me happy to be suffering for you now, and in my own body to make up all the hardships that still have to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church,

    

 

                Marriage at Cana

                (1) John 2: 3-10

"And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. Then he said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the president of the feast.’ They did this; the president tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew—the president of the feast called the bridegroom and said, ‘Everyone serves good wine first and the worse wine when the guests are well wined; but you have kept the best wine till now.’"

                (2) For this first public miracle Jesus
                        chose a marriage feast
                        and water is turned into wine —

                    In the Mass we deeply are one with Jesus —
                        We receive Him in the Eucharist —
                        in His Divinity and humanity —

                    It is the marriage of our hearts to Jesus —
 

                        Excerpt from January 10, 2009

                I recall in the Red Rosary book how
                Jesus said —
                When we go to the Eucharist — He comes
                    to us — no less present than when
                    He was in Mary's womb —

                Jesus ascended to heaven and He sent
                    The Holy Spirit

                In baptism we receive this special
                    sharing in His life —
                   
IN US

                The Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwell
                    in the graced baptized
                    soul —

                Mary carried the child Jesus IN her
                    womb —

                Jesus was formed — his little human
                    body inside of a human person —

                This shows the intimacy God wants
                    with us
                    God dwelling
IN us
                    through the sacraments —

                IN HIM 

Through Him, With Him and In Him

                Christ comes IN us in Holy Eucharist —
                    no less present than when He
                    was carried by Mary

                Christ comes IN us in His Divinity
                    and humanity

                Our mission in the Shepherds of Christ is
                    to lead men to know this greater
                    intimacy God wants with
                    us

                To lead people baptized to the Eucharist
                    and adoration — in the Catholic faith to be more and
                    more filled with His grace —

                Have greater intimacy with God —
                Greater abundance of His life
                    in us

                (3) Bread and wine is changed into the Body and
                        Blood of Jesus in the Mass
                    God wants this mystical marriage with us —
                    We being filled more and more with
                        His life — His grace —
                        loving Him - so much
                    Oh Jesus we love You
                    the marriage of our souls —

                (4) Luke 4: 18-21

and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, 'This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening.'

                (5) Matthew 5: 17-20

‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved. Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of Heaven.

‘For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven.

                (6) With regard the wedding feast — the
                        wine had run short —
                        at the prompting of 'the mother of
                        Jesus.' Jesus performs His first
                        public miracle and turns water
                        to wine — An abundance of wine —
                        I recall the multiplication of the
                        few loaves and fish later to occur
                        and how it fed so many with
                        none left over —

                    Abundance — we receive from God's
                        bounty — abundantly
                    God gives us abundantly —
                    We think in quantities —
                    Look at the abundance of the Eucharist
                    How Jesus is truly present in the
                        tabernacle —
                    The abundance of Masses
                    That we the members of His body are so
                        abundantly fed —
                    We can think of the woman at the well

 

John 4: 13-14

Jesus replied:

    Whoever drinks this water
    will be thirsty again;
    but no one who drinks the water
        that I shall give
    will ever be thirsty again:
    the water that I shall give
    will become a spring of water within,
        welling up for eternal life.

                (7) This too was given to me in a message.                       

October 5, 1992 - 3:30am

R. Dear Jesus, Give me Your hand to write this book for you. I am your servant. I want to be Your hand to this world. If you, Lord Jesus, would write a book, what would you say?

Jesus:   My dear children,

   Today I come to deliver a message to each of you. I want to tell you of each person's dignity, of their beauty and their self-worth. Each child is, oh, so uniquely precious to My Most Sacred Heart. Each child is full of the talents I have given to them. Each person is divinely created by God and given all these gifts to be happy and love one another.

   The problem comes when you feel you will be left out. That you will be left by another who has trodden on you and will do it again. I see you all as My most precious children. I watch your every move and know all pain and anguish in your heart. My Heart aches, you have insecure feelings about yourself. I came to this earth I died for you. I felt cold, hungry, lonely on this earth. You need not worry that no one knows the pain and anguish in your heart. God created you with such special gifts and talents. It is important for you to raise above your wound and forgive those who hurt you.

   You need only turn your will and your life over to Me and I will guide you in all your ways. I have all the Power. Many are not of My ways. The key to life is to recognize your faults, but still know you are this precious gift of My Father a gift to this world. This world is in need of your strength. Running yourself down, blaming others hurting them can cause you misery and pain. At this very moment, you are the precious creation of God!! You must operate with Me in your heart.

   You need not run yourself down. I am with you every day guiding your ways, lest your foot stumble and you lose your way. You will not wander far from your path if every day you keep bringing your focus back to Me. If you dare let Me be at the helm, if you dare to really let Me run your life, I will do with you such wonders that you yourself would be amazed. But you will know with such ease when you did these things that you did not do them alone. You will know My power, moving the mountain, My power chipping at the stone, My power working on your hardest problem and you will be set free.

   Oh yes, you will be set free and know a serenity that only comes from letting go and letting Me run your life. To you, My child, I have given all that is good. I made you My holy soldier, My warrior in a world of pain and hatred. You are the light that shines in the darkness, you are the coat to a cold child, you are the smile that warms a troubled and lonely heart. You are the comfort for everyone you meet, because My most precious Heart powers you, smiles through you, understands and loves through you.

   Love your fellows for Me. There are so many troubled hearts that need to know My love. I can love through you if you let Me, I can be their friend through you if you let Me. I am He who comforts you and you are he who comforts them. My power is endless, it never runs out, there is not a power failure EVER. In your darkest hour, My light shines in the darkness and I say to you, "Oh blessed of My Father, look at yourself with awe, you are My creation, you are indeed so precious to Me, you are My light to this world, you are My hands and My feet and most of all My Heart."

   Oh, you are My loving Heart, to those who are bowed down, to those who are lost in the darkness, you carry My smile and wear My armor in a world that is trying to tear one another down with hate and ugliness. There is gentleness, there is love, there is hope in you, if you open yourself up to Me. Be My knight to the world, wear My armor. I am your God and I will protect you from the darkness. Plug into My power, be not afraid, I go before you always and you can rest in My arms when you feel weary. You can put your head in My lap and weep, you will know, I am truly with you and you are My light to this world. I created you so special - to cast out fear in the darkness, to clothe the naked, to give hope to the oppressed, to be as I live in you and love through you and you are My smile and I touch My hurting ones through your love.

   You are he who loves this world. You must stay plugged into My power-source. This world is hungry for My love. It needs My love, I give to them through you. I am your God and I made you as a gift to the world. You are filled.

    Focus on Me and your life will be abundant and whole, joy in suffering, freedom — but  you can take the knocks because you will know you do not go it alone, but with Me. I love you My precious child.

end of October 5, 1992

                (8) Jesus says in the scripture in John
                        at the Wedding of Cana —
                        "Woman, how does your concern
                        affect me? My hour has not yet
                        come."

                    Jesus took them to a garden for
                        His prayer in agony —

                    Adam and Eve sinned in the garden —

                    Jesus sweat blood —

                    Jesus is the vine and we are the
                        branches —
                    It is appropriate He takes them
                        to the garden of olives —

 

                    Jesus is the the New Adam — Adam and Eve sinned with
                        forbidden fruit — Now Jesus is the vine
                        We are the branches
                    Jesus will give us His blood —
                        taken from the vine

                    Sing: We Have Been Told

                    In Mark — Jesus says in the garden
                        before His passion
                        "The hour has come"
                        "Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed
                            over to sinners"

                    We see in John the beginning of the
                        first miracle Jesus says
                        "Woman...My hour has not yet come"
                        We see this parcel of time between
                            this in John and
                            the hour has come in Mark
                            "Behold, the Son of Man is to be
                            handed over to sinners"

                (9) The prophets foretold the coming of the
                        Messiah —
                        We see there is this time —
                        There is order as God acts in bringing
                            His Son — the Messiah

                        Mary from the first moment of conception
                            was conceived without original sin —
                            God has put us here in time and space —
                            God has a plan
                        He puts us here in a certain time
                            in history —
                            Every soul has a purpose

From the Priestly Newsletter 1998 - Issue 4

In this work of ongoing redemption, each of us has a special mission, a special role to fulfill. No one can fulfill another's mission. Each of us, being a unique person, has a unique mission to carry out. John Cardinal Newman reminds us: "...everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random...God sees everyone of us; He creates every soul, He lodges it in the body, one by one, for a purpose. He needs, He deigns to need, every one of us. He has an end for each of us; we are all equal in His sight, and we are placed in our different ranks and stations, not to get what we can out of them for ourselves, but to labor in them for Him. As Christ has His work, we too have ours; as He rejoiced to do His work, we must rejoice in ours also."15

                    Jesus lived a quiet life from
                        infancy to this baptism of
                        Jesus.

                    We probably would have had an
                        agenda for Jesus —

                    The Son of God
                        is with us in the Holy Eucharist —
                        He comes to us at Mass, silently —
                        We receive the Divine Almighty God — 


                        December 9, 1993


                        A Prayer for Holy Communion

R. As I give more and more of what I am attached to away, nobody can have a hold on me. I become, more and more, the little dependent baby in His arms. I depend on Him for everything. It is hard to let go of this to be as a little baby, dependent on Him for everything.

If, when I receive Jesus, I receive God, then so, in some form, I receive the Father and Holy Spirit because how do you separate them?

And the doors to the tabernacle open wide and in it we behold Jesus, Son of God, God-made-man. His presence is to be honored, His name worshiped and adored. His glory is forever.

Jesus: I come as a little baby into your midst. I died out of love of you. I come to you today in Holy Communion. This is God-made-man, Son of God, coming in your hearts to dwell with you. Do not focus on your unworthiness. Focus on His love, just for you, to come to you today. I love you so much and God is truly in your mouth. Be close to Me. Let go of yourself. Enter into total union with Me, soul to soul. Be united with Me totally in your spirit. Forget all the cares of this world and let Me dwell in you and work in your heart. Let Me heal your weary soul.

Open wide your gates and I enter in and you remain changed, never the same because Jesus Christ, Son of God, came to you and dwelt in your soul. You are My temple.

end of December 9, 1993 

 

                (10) Jesus refers to Mary as 'Woman' at the
                        Marriage of Cana

                        "Woman, how does your concern affect
                        me? My hour has not come."
                        We see in John 2: 4

John 19: 26-27

Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

 

                        Mary — Woman — the New Eve
                        Jesus — the New Adam — on the tree

                        Jesus is the Redeemer

                        'Woman' — Jesus says!!

                        In Genesis God called Eve 'woman'

Genesis 3: 14-16

   Then Yahweh God said to the snake, ‘Because you have done this,

Accursed be you
of all animals wild and tame!
On your belly you will go
and on dust you will feed
as long as you live.
I shall put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
it will bruise your head
and you will strike its heel.’

   To the woman he said:

I shall give you intense pain
   in childbearing,
you will give birth to your children
   in pain.
Your yearning will be for your husband,
and he will dominate you.

 

                        In Genesis God said to the man

 

Genesis 3: 17-19

     To the man he said, ‘Because you listened to the voice of your wife and ate from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat,

   Accursed be the soil because of you!
   Painfully will you get your food from it
   as long as you live.
   It will yield you brambles and thistles,
   as you eat the produce of the land.
   By the sweat of your face
   will you earn your food,
   until you return to the ground,
   as you were taken from it.
   For dust you are
   and to dust you shall return.’

 

                        Verse Genesis 3: 19 "By the sweat of your face"

                        In the garden of olives
                            Jesus sweats Blood —

                        The New Adam sweat blood from
                            His face —

                        It says in Genesis 3: 20-24

                        The man called his wife, Eve, because
                            she became the mother of all
                            the living.

                        God clothed Adam and Eve
                        They knew when they had sinned
                            they were naked —

                        Christ died on the cross —
                            so very bare — 

January 5, 1997

 Jesus: BABY, BARE BABY, LAID BARE

Bare, Bare Baby, Laid Bare

Open yourself, Oh Jerusalem, your time is come you will be a light to the people in darkness, many will walk whence you come and the earth will be shakened and the light will come across a dark sky and enlighten their minds.

Oh stiff-necked people, you are so stiff in your ways, let the Spirit envelope you and lead you on your way.

A country of stiffs, a people of planning and prodding, of deliberating and wondering—you lack faith, Jerusalem, you lack faith in God.

Oh walk naked into the cold night, you are cold in your hearts and naked in your clothing—I clothe you with glory, I light your face with light, but you turn your cheeks to the darkness and stay stiff-necked in your hearts. Oh cold and dark hearts, reach for the light that you may know the glory that awaits the sinners and enlightens their minds.

end of January 5, 1997

 

                Kingdom of God

                (1) Matthew 5: 1-12

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was
seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is
what he taught them:

How blessed are the poor in spirit:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle:
they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those
   who hunger and thirst for uprightness:
they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
they shall be recognised
   as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
   in the cause of uprightness:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and
speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this
is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

                (2) Blessed are the poor in spirit —
                        to empty ourselves of impurities
                        to let go of patterned behavior that
                            hurt us and others
                        to ask Mary to help us to have the
                            virtues as we dwell in her
                            Immaculate Heart — asking
                            the Holy Spirit to form us in the image
                            of Jesus

                        TO BE OPEN —

                        not give into deception of the devil
                            to try to close us because of
                            wounded past emotions

                    A man stood with a sticker with anger
                        pent up from generations past
                        and he didn't like the darkness
                        he felt —
                        he lured friends to be with him —
                            acting as he should in kindness
                            to them —
                        when he had their trust —
                            He put his angry sticker on
                            them acting out wounded
                            emotions from the past —
                            trying to finish his
                            unfinished business that
                            caused him unrest inside —

                    Friends are to be friends —
                        not recipients of your old
                        pent up anger when they
                        learn to trust you —
                        projecting anger on innocent others —
                        harboring anger in our hearts keeps
                        us stuck —

                    Forgive — pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace
                        to let go of wounded emotions
                        of the past and be healed so
                        you can love — freely — unattached
                        to hidden anger

                    Matthew 5: 3
                    How blessed are the poor in spirit:
                    the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
 

 

Matthew 5: 21-26

‘You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you, anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court; anyone who calls a brother “Fool” will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls him “Traitor” will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. In truth I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

 

                (3) Matthew 5: 5
                    Blessed are those who mourn:
                    they shall be comforted.

                    We mourn for the murder of the
                    babies in the womb — those little
                    innocent ones — so innocent — so tiny —
                    slaughter in the womb of their mother —
                    We mourn and we pray that God helps us
                    now with these rules concerning
                    abortion —

                    We mourn the sin in the world — the greed —
                    the violence —
                    We cry in our hearts and pray —
                    We beg for help from our God — to
                        spread the consecration of the
                        New Adam and the New Eve —
                        the Hearts of Pure and Holy Love

   

Matthew 5: 17-20

‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved. Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of Heaven.

‘For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven.

 

Matthew 5: 13-16

‘You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people’s feet.

    ‘You are light for the world. A city built on a hill–top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp–stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.

                (4) Matthew 5: 27-37

   ‘You have heard how it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should be your downfall, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body go to hell.

    ‘It has also been said, Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say this to you, everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of an illicit marriage, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

    'Again, you have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God's throne; or by earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need say is "Yes" if you mean yes, "No" if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the Evil One.

    ‘You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked.

 

Matthew 5: 4

                Blessed are the gentle:
                they shall have the earth as inheritance.

                    Jesus is tender, Jesus is love —
                        the combattal attitude —
                        argumentation to get the top —
                        to be right — to provoke a
                        righteous person is evil —

                    A person can seek dominance for
                        dominance sake by arguing with
                        a righteous person — this is not right —

                    When one is in tune with God and others
                        they are not prideful —
                        they are not jealous or envious —
                        they do not seek dominance for dominance
                            sake —
                        to try to bring one in authority down —
                        they respect authority and live by this
                            structure —
                        recognizing without structure things
                            fall apart —
                        God works in structure

Matthew 5: 4

 Blessed are the gentle:
 they shall have the earth as inheritance.

  

                        Jesus is meek in Heart

                (5)

Matthew 5: 6

Blessed are those
    who hunger and thirst for uprightness:
they shall have their fill.
 

Matthew 5: 38-42

    ‘You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if someone wishes to go to law with you to get your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone requires you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.

                (6)

Matthew 5: 7

Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
 

Matthew 5: 43-48

    ‘You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’

 

                (7) Jesus tells us how to act on the Sermon
                        on the Mount in Matthew

                    Also Mary in the Magnificat tells
                        us how the Holy Spirit wants us to
                        be a handmaid of the Lord —

Luke 1: 46-55

And Mary said:

My soul proclaims
    the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices
    in God my Saviour;
because he has looked upon
    the humiliation of his servant.
Yes, from now onwards
    all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty
    has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his faithful love extends age after age
    to those who fear him.
He has used the power of his arm,
he has routed the arrogant of heart.
He has pulled down princes
    from their thrones
        and raised high the lowly.
He has filled the starving with good things,
    sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the help
    of Israel his servant,
        mindful of his faithful love
—according to the promise
    he made to our ancestors—
of his mercy to Abraham
    and to his descendants for ever.      

                    Sing: Holy Is His Name

                (8) Building the Kingdom of God is
                        following in the footsteps
                        of Jesus —

                    The Father said                        

Matthew 17: 5

‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’

                    The Father wants us to follow Jesus —
                    The Father tells us this is My Beloved Son —
                        Listen to Him

                    The Father tells us — His favor rests on
                        the one who does His will —

                (9) In John 17 — before the bitter passion
                        of Jesus — Jesus' prayer to
                        His Father tells us the intimacy
                        He wants with us and
                        how He wants us to be one
                        with the Father

 

John 17: 21-23

May they all be one,
just as, Father, you are in me
   and I am in you,
so that they also may be in us,
so that the world may believe
it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory
   you gave to me,
that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so perfected in unity
that the world will recognise
   that it was you who sent me
and that you have loved them
as you have loved me.

                (10)

The Our Father

    Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

                     

 

                The Transfiguration

                (1) Matthew 17: 1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and suddenly from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but Jesus.

                (2) In the Scripture above Jesus is
                        identified again by the Father,
                        as the Son of God.
                        Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus
                            showing that Jesus comes to fulfill
                            the law and the prophets perfectly.

 

Exodus 24: 12-18

Moses on the mountain

Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets—the law and the commandment—which I have written for their instruction.’ Moses made ready, with Joshua his assistant, and they went up the mountain of God. He said to the elders, ‘Wait here for us until we come back to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you; if anyone has any matter to settle, let him go to them.’ Moses then went up the mountain.
    Cloud covered the mountain. The glory of Yahweh rested on Mount Sinai and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day Yahweh called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the watching Israelites, the glory of Yahweh looked like a devouring fire on the mountain top. Moses went right into the cloud and went on up the mountain. Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

 

1 King 19: 8-18

So he got up and ate and drank, and strengthened by that food he walked for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, God's mountain.

There he went into a cave and spent the night there. Then the word of Yahweh came to him saying, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I am full of jealous zeal for Yahweh Sabaoth, because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, have torn down your altars and put your prophets to the sword. I am the only one left, and now they want to kill me.' Then he was told, 'Go out and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.' For at that moment Yahweh was going by. A mighty hurricane split the mountains and shattered the rocks before Yahweh. But Yahweh was not in the hurricane. And after the hurricane, an earthquake. But Yahweh was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, fire. But Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire, a light murmuring sound. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice came to him, which said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I am full of jealous zeal for Yahweh, God Sabaoth, because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, have torn down your altars and put your prophets to the sword. I am the only one left and now they want to kill me.' 'Go,' Yahweh said, 'go back by the same way to the desert of Damascus. You must go and anoint Hazael as king of Aram. You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat, of Abel-Meholah, as prophet to succeed you. Anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael will be put to death by Jehu; and anyone who escapes the sword of Jehu will be put to death by Elisha. But I shall spare seven thousand in Israel; all the knees that have not bent before Baal, all the mouths that have not kissed him.'

                (3) Jesus took Peter, James and John
                        up Mt. Tabor and
                        He will take them again in the
                            garden at His agony

                    Jesus' face in the transfiguration was
                        like the sun and His clothes
                        became white as light.

Daniel 10: 6

his body was like beryl, his face looked like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and his face had the gleam of burnished bronze, the sound of his voice was like the roar of a multitude.

 

Daniel 7: 9

While I was watching, thrones were set in place and one most venerable took his seat. His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burning fire.

 

                    Heavenly garments :

Revelation 4: 4; 7: 9; 19: 14

Round the throne in a circle were twenty-four thrones, and on them twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white robes with golden crowns on their heads.

After that I saw that there was a huge number, impossible for anyone to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted in a loud voice,

Behind him, dressed in linen of dazzling white, rode the armies of heaven on white horses.

                (4) Matthew 17: 5

‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’

                (5) Matthew 17: 2

There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light.

                (6) Matthew 17: 3

And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him.

                (7) From my writings of January 9, 1996, I write:

"I was engulfed again in my love of God and cried so hard because I love Him so much. In this intimate act of giving myself totally to Him, my whole act was in emptying myself, wanting only to be lost in Him and united forever to Him in this most blissful moment. I turned myself over and was lost in Him, knowing His presence with me and knowing His deep love. The world stopped and I existed in Him, longing to forever stay there, so this moment would never end."

"I touched you, God and in this embrace I knew your unending love. I saw Your Body as if it was transfigured and glowing in light and I was lost in Thee."

This is how it began. I would see a great reflective light, as if from a mirror, on the eaves of the church in the front of Holy Cross-Immaculata and His Body was changed in the most brilliant light before my eyes. I cannot describe what I saw, nor have I ever seen it except in this vision and two that would follow the next two days. Jesus was transfigured before my eyes.

The date of January 9, 1996, when it first happened, was the same date January 9, 1994, when I genuflected before the crucifix and the altar at St. Gertrude's and the Father spoke; Blue Book II-page 18, January 9, 1994: "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

                (8) From Blue Book II - from St. Gertrude's

January 9, 1994 7:00 a.m.

God The Father: My gift to you is My Son. This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

                (9) August 20, 1997

R. I was in St. Gertrude's Church and I was in the front of the church. I was looking at the crucifix, and I heard the Father speak: "My gift to you is My Son. This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."

    On the 20th of August, 1997, I was at St. Gertrude's and the Lord appeared transfigured on the cross. I heard the voice of the Father speak, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, listen to Him."

                  (10) February 5, 2000

            R. When we opened the Rosary Factory February 5, 2000
                     Jesus appeared transfigured in the Sacred Heart
                     Statue beneath Mary's image.

     

                The Institution of the Holy Eucharist

                (1) The Mysteries of Light end with
                        the institution of the Eucharist.

Matthew 26: 26-30

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples. ‘Take it and eat,’ he said, ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he handed it to them saying, ‘Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. From now on, I tell you, I shall never again drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my Father.’

After the psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives.

                (2) Our Lord in the Beatitudes is telling
                        us the rule of life —
                        He is saying Happy the man
                            who is ...
                    Moses went to Mount Sinai to
                        receive God's Law

The Ten Commandments
 

  1.   1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.

  2.   2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.

  3.   3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

  4.   4. Honor your father and your mother.

  5.   5. You shall not kill.

  6.   6. You shall not commit adultery.

  7.   7. You shall not steal.

  8.   8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

  9.   9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

  10.   10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

                    Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount
                        is pictured as the New Moses
                        Giving us a new law —
                        Jesus went beyond the 10
                        Commandments

                    He didn't abolish them —
                    He perfected them —

                    Following Christ means much more
                        than keeping the Old Testament
                        Laws given thru Moses —

                    It means keeping the New Laws
                        given by Jesus.

                    Jesus is giving His New Law —
                    Jesus is giving the Spirit He
                        wants His followers to have —

                    The Beatitudes are not just for
                        the saints —
                        Jesus taught us the Beatitudes,
                        They are for us —

                    This is the way we are to follow
                        if we are to come to true
                        happiness —

                    The way to happiness that Christ
                        points out is so different
                        from the way to happiness
                        that our society points out
                        to us —

                (3)

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
     the Father, the Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth,
     of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
     the only Son of God,
     eternally begotten of the Father,
     God from God, Light from Light,

     true God from true God,
     begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
     Through him all things were made.
     For us men and for our salvation
        he came down from heaven:

     by the power of the Holy Spirit
     he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

     For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
        he suffered, died, and was buried.
        On the third day he rose again
           in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
        he ascended into heaven
           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
        He will come again in glory
           to judge the living and the dead,
        and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
      who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
     With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
      He has spoken through the prophets.
     We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
     We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
     We look for the resurrection of the dead,
        and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

                        Jesus was a carpenter.

 

The Carpenter

June 12, 1994

Jesus:  You are he who goes to a carpenter to learn to make a cabinet. You know nothing. You do not have any idea of what you are to do. The carpenter knows exactly. He has a procedure whereby his plan will be accomplished. Every detail must be observed. He is the Master. You do not have the talent. You need talent to do woodwork. If you were given the talent and the directions, you could accomplish this task with such beauty.

    I am the carpenter. You are he who needs to be taught. You lack the talent. You need the gifts of the Spirit to accomplish My task! You come to Me in total ignorance. You are open, the Spirit fills you with the gifts. You have everything you need to do My work. The Father created you to accomplish His tasks. You are perfect. You must come open. You must know the plan. The plan is His Will for you. If you do not follow the plan, the cabinet will not be built correctly.

    I am the Master. I guide you. I love you. I give you all you need. I walk you through every move. If you try on your own, you have a problem. You know not the way to build cabinets. You know not the way to Me on your own. You must come to Me to be taught. To go it alone is to your own detriment.

    Oh, little one, it is so simple. You, in your will, want to work your own plans. You know not how to do it. Only I can teach you what you need to know. Oh, please come to Me. I have all you need. The Spirit fills you with the gifts to know, love and serve God. To go it alone is like trying to build the cabinet with no knowledge of woodworking. Oh, little ones, I love you. Come to Me. Let Me teach you. The Will of the Father is the happiness for your life.

    I am Jesus Christ, Son of God. I am God. I, God, long to be with you and teach you. Go not off on your own. Come to Me. I love you so!

end of June 12, 1994

                (4) Sing: Jesus, Jesus the Light of the World

John 8: 12

When Jesus spoke to the people again, he said: 

I am the light of the world;

anyone who follows me

   will not be walking in the dark,

but will have the light of life.

                (5) God gives us a share in His Divine Life
                        in baptism and
                        Jesus nourishes us — feeds this life
                        in the Eucharist

                (6) Song:  A Priest is a Gift from God

                (7)

July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:

"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.

"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.

"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."

- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)

   

                (8)

Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

My dear fellow Associate Members,

Jesus is calling special apostles to join a new division of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Here is a message from Jesus given to Father Carter:

    My beloved priest-companion, I am requesting that a new prayer movement be started under the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I am asking for volunteers who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as others, are to be invited to join this movement.

    These apostles are to pray for the intentions I am giving you. For part of the hour they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook. They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.

    I will use this new prayer movement within My Shepherds of Christ Ministries in a powerful way to help in the renewal of My Church and the world. I will give great graces to those who join this movement. The name, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, is to be given to this movement.

    I am inviting My beloved Rita Ring to be coordinator for this activity.

    I pour out the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.

    This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:

    1. For the spread of the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary culminating in the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
    2. For the Pope.
    3. For all bishops of the world.
    4. For all priests.
    5. For all sisters and brothers in the religious life.
    6. For all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement, and for the spread of this movement to the world.
    7. For all members of the Catholic Church.
    8. For all members of the human family.
    9. For all souls in purgatory.

end of Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart message

   

                (9) Christ's Church must grow and
                        spread and be preached—
                        We are to go out —
                        We are to spread the Good News
                        We are to try to grow

                (10) Jesus asked Fr. Carter to begin the Shepherds
                        of Christ —
                        we are to grow
                        we are to go-out
                        we are to see this as God's intentions
                            for us
                        not remaining a private home —

                    Our mission is to help spread
                        this love we have
                        to the priests, the elderly,
                        families, school children,
                        tiny tots, Catholics,
                        non-Catholics

                    We pray for this as Apostles of the
                        Eucharistic Heart for
                        the spread of the devotion to the
                        Hearts of Jesus and Mary culminating
                        in the reign of the Sacred Heart and the
                        triumph of the Immaculate Heart.

                    We are praying for all our priests
                        in 8 languages

                    The Apostles were eye witnesses
 

2 Peter 1: 16-19

When we told you about the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not slavishly repeating cleverly invented myths; no, we had seen his majesty with our own eyes. He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when a voice came to him from the transcendent Glory, This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.  We ourselves heard this voice from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.

So we have confirmation of the words of the prophets; and you will be right to pay attention to it as to a lamp for lighting a way through the dark, until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds.

 

                    Jesus made Peter the first Vicar
                        of the Church —
       

Matthew 16: 18

So I now say to you: you are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.

   
                       

 

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Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P. O. Box 627
China, IN  47250

 

Toll free - 1-888-211-3041
Local - 1-812-273-8405
fax - 1-812-273-3182
web: www.sofc.org
e-mail: info@sofc.org

 

  Size Price Quantity   

 Holy Family

 24"

$180

 

 Limpias

 24"

$125

 

 St. Anthony

 24"

$125

 

 St. Claire

 24"

$125

 

 St. Francis

 24"

$125

 

 St. Joseph

 24"

$125

 

 St. Jude

 24"

$125

 

 St. Padre Pio

 24"

$125

 

 St. Therese

 24"

$125

 
 Divine Mercy

22"

$125  
 Angel

22"

$100  
 St. Philomena

20"

$100  
 St. Philomena

16"

$65  
 St. Joseph

18"

$65  
 St. Francis

18"

$65  
 St. Anthony

18"

$65  
 St. Rita

18"

$65  
 St. Therese

18"

$65  
 Pieta - Color 15" $75  
 Pieta - Marble 15" $75  
 Holy Family

12"

$60  
 St. Padre Pio - standing

12"

$40  
 St. Padre Pio - sitting

8"

$50  
 St. Rita

12"

$40  

 Divine Mercy

12"

$40  
 St. Claire

12"

$40  
 Limpias

8"

$25  
 Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass

28"

$500  
 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass

24"

$500  

 Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass

 24"

$500  

 Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass

 24"

$500  

 Infant of Prague w/glass

 24"

$500  

 Our Lady of Grace w/glass

 24"

$500  

 Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass  

 24"

$500  
 Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass

 24"

$500  
 Sacred Heart -Blessing w/glass

 24"

$500  

 Sorrowful Mother w/glass

 24"

$500  
 Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass

18"

$300  
 Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass

18"

$300  
 Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass

18"

$300  
 Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass  

18"

$300  
 Our Lady of Grace w/glass

18"

$300  

 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass

18" $300  
 Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass

12"

$200  

 Fatima w/glass

11"

$150  

 Fatima w/glass

 18"

$250  
 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass

 12"

$160  
 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 15" $200  
 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 18" $250  
 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass

27"

$450  


Call for Shipping Price (1-888-211-3041)
 

  Name
   
 Sub-Total
  Address
         
 IN Tax (7%)
  City
  
 Shipping
  State                                            Zip
  
 Donation
  Telephone
   
 Order Total

 

Shepherds of Christ  
P. O. Box 627
China, IN  47250

 

Call Shepherds of Christ

1-888-211-3041
 

      

Fr. Joe's Homily Books  

Guiding Light - Cycle A
The Word Alive in Our Hearts

$10.00


Guiding Light - Cycle B
Focusing on the Word

$10.00
 

Guiding Light - Cycle C
Feed My Soul

$10.00

 

Fr. Carter's Books
  

Priestly Newsletter Book I

12 Newsletters
July 1994 - June 1996

$12.00


Priestly Newsletter Book 2

17 Newsletters
1996 - 1999

$12.00
 

Priestly Newsletter Book 3

4 Newsletters & Prayers
2000

$12.00

Response to God's Love



$10.00


Messages given
by Jesus and Mary 1994

Tell My People
$10.00
 


The Pain and the Joy

$10.00

Synopsis of the Spiritual Life

Spirituality Handbook
$3.00


Priestly Newsletter on CD
2000 - Issue 1

$10.00


Priestly Newsletter on CD
2000 - Issue 2

$10.00

 

Fr. Pasquini's Books
   

Authenticity


 
Prayers and Meditations

$10.00

In Imitation of Two Hearts

For those suffering or
in Nursing Homes
 
$10.00

Light, Happiness and Peace

Journeying through traditional
Catholic Spirituality

$10.00

Medicine of Immortality

Prayers and Meditations - will assist the reader in growth toward a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist

$10.00


Ecce Fides - Pillar of Truth

Ideal for RCIA, Adult & Youth Bible Study, Homeschooling, Catholic
Identity Studies

$10.00

Shepherds of Christ Newsletters
9 Newsletters
2006 - 2008

$36.00

  

DVDs and CDs by Fr. Pasquini
 


 

Authenticity DVD
Prayers on the Ocean

$10.00
 

Nursing Home Mass DVD

$10.00

Consolation DVD

$10.00

Medicine of Immortality
Read by Rita Ring

2 CDs - $17.00

In Imitation of Two Hearts DVD

$10.00


 

Consolation CD
by Fr. John

$8.00
 


 

Nursing Home Mass CD

$8.00
 

Holy Spirit Novena DVD

$10.00 

Divine Mercy Chaplet DVD

$10.00 

plus shipping
   

 

Call Shepherds of Christ

1-888-211-3041

 

Available for $10.00 plus postage

1-888-211-3041

Call Shepherds of Christ

 

God’s Blue Books

God’s Blue Book 1
Teachings to Lift You Up

    $10.00


God’s Blue Book 4
The Love of the Hearts of
Jesus and Mary

$5.00
 


God’s Blue Book 2
The Fire of His Love

$10.00
 

God’s Blue Book 5
So Deep Is the Love of His Heart

$5.00


God’s Blue Book 3
Love God, Love One Another

(Fr. Carter's favorite)
$10.00
 


God’s Blue Book 6
He Calls Us to Action

$10.00
 

  

 

Rosary Books
 


Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary

$10.00
 

Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary

$12.00

Rosary Meditations for
Parents and Children's

$10.00


Mysteries of Light 1

$5.00
 

Mysteries of Light 2

$5.00


Little People & Elderly Rosary Book

$10.00

Coloring Book
$5.00 each


Coloring Book
$5.00 each

 

Coloring Book
$5.00 each

Coloring Book
$5.00 each

Coloring Book
$5.00 each


Coloring Book
$5.00 each

 

 

 

We are trying to get

Response to God's Love

and the Mass Book out.
 

Anybody who wants to help us

with a donation to get these 2 books

out in the Priestly/hierarchy mailing —

Please call Shepherds of Christ

 1-888-211-3041

 

 

July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:

"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.

"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.

"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."

- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)

 

  

 

  


 

The China Church is over 140 years old

and we pray in there 24 hours a day.

It needs stucco and so does

the community building.

Can you please help us?

Call Shepherds of Christ

 1-888-211-3041

 

Likewise the priest house

is 150 years old.

Jesus told us to repair it

which we have been doing.

We need $13,000.00 for this work.

 

 

You can help put the Blue Book V

in the hands of 1,000 people

we need $1,200 postage for this

It is ready to go

Call Shepherds of Christ

1-888-211-3041

    

Crucifix — hand carved by Felix

   

Available for $750.00

 

 

 

Brand New Internet Store

 

 

Click picture

   

 


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