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.'

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.

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.

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. 

                (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.’

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. 

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

                (5) Matthew 5: 17-20

                (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

                    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

                        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

                        In Genesis God said to the man

                        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 — 

                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.
 

                (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

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

                (6)

Matthew 5: 7

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

Matthew 5: 43-48

                (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

                    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

                (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

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

                (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)

                        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)

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
 

                    Jesus made Peter the first Vicar
                        of the Church —