January 22, 2010
 

                Today's Readings

1 Samuel 24: 3-21

Saul thereupon took three thousand men selected from all Israel and went in search of David and his men east of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats. He came to the sheepfolds along the route, where there was a cave, and went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave; David's men said to him, 'Today is the day of which Yahweh said to you, "I shall deliver your enemy into your power; do what you like with him." ' David got up and, unobserved, cut off the border of Saul's cloak. Afterwards David reproached himself for having cut off the border of Saul's cloak. He said to his men, 'Yahweh preserve me from doing such a thing to my lord as to raise my hand against him, since he is Yahweh's anointed.' By these words David restrained his men and would not let them attack Saul.

    Saul then left the cave and went on his way. After this, David too left the cave and called after Saul, 'My lord king!' Saul looked behind him and David, bowing to the ground, prostrated himself. David then said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to people who say, "David intends your ruin"? This very day you have seen for yourself how Yahweh put you in my power in the cave and how, refusing to kill you, I spared you saying, "I will not raise my hand against my lord, since he is Yahweh's anointed." Look, father, look at the border of your cloak in my hand. Since, although I cut the border off your cloak, I did not kill you, surely you realise that I intend neither mischief nor crime. I have not wronged you, and yet you hunt me down to take my life. May Yahweh be judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me on you; but I shall never lay a hand on you! (As the old proverb says: Wickedness comes out of wicked people, but I shall never lay a hand on you!) On whose trail is the king of Israel campaigning? Whom are you pursuing? On the trail of a dead dog, of a flea! May Yahweh be the judge and decide between me and you; may he examine and defend my cause and give judgement for me by rescuing me from your clutches!'

     When David had finished saying this to Saul, Saul said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' And Saul began to weep aloud. 'You are upright and I am not,' he said to David, 'since you have behaved well to me, whereas I have behaved badly to you. And today you have shown how well you have behaved to me, since Yahweh had put me in your power but you did not kill me. When a man comes on his enemy, does he let him go unmolested? May Yahweh reward you for the good you have done me today! Now I know that you will indeed reign and that the sovereignty in Israel will pass into your hands.

Psalm 57: 2, 3-4, 6, 11

I call to God the Most High,
to God who has done everything for me;
may he send from heaven and save me,
and check those who harry me;                             Pause
may God send his faithful love and his constancy.

I lie surrounded by lions,
greedy for human prey,
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongue a sharp sword.

They laid a snare in my path
    — I was bowed with care —
they dug a pit ahead of me,
but fell in it themselves.                                         Pause

Be exalted above the heavens, God!
Your glory over all the earth!

Mark 3: 13-19

The appointment of the Twelve

He now went up onto the mountain and summoned those he wanted. So they came to him and he appointed twelve; they were to be his companions and to be sent out to proclaim the message, with power to drive out devils. And so he appointed the Twelve, Simon to whom he gave the name Peter, James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges or ‘Sons of Thunder’; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the man who was to betray him. 

until the spirit is poured out on us 
    from above, 
and the desert becomes an orchard, 
and an orchard that seems like a forest. 

Fair judgement will fix its home 
    in the desert, 
and uprightness live in this orchard, 
and the product of uprightness 
    will be peace, 
the effect of uprightness 
    being quiet and security for ever. 

My people will live in a peaceful home, 
in peaceful houses, tranquil dwellings.

   

Matthew 5: 9

Blessed are the peacemakers:
they shall be recognised
   as children of God.

  

John 14: 27

Peace I bequeath to you,
my own peace I give you,
a peace which the world cannot give,
    this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
    or afraid. 

1. The Holy Father wishes me to express his gratitude for your kind gift of a collection of homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson. He appreciates your thoughtful gesture. His Holiness will remember you and your associates in his prayers. Invoking upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ, he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing. 11/24/2009 - Holy Father - Vatican

2. I thank you for your beautiful letter and for the fine publications of Shepherds of Christ Ministries you sent me. With all my best wishes for your splendid apostolate. 11/24/2009 - Cardinal - Rome

3. Thank you cordially for the booklet, you sent to me, especially for the sermons of Fr. Robinson. I am a retired bishop, but can use it for meditation. Also my sincere thanks for your continuous prayer and for your apostolate for the priesthood and for vocations. With you I pray for that daily. May God bless you and your apostolate with all esteem, wishes and blessing and cordial greetings. 11/10/2009 - Cardinal - Netherlands

4. Thank you very much for your kind letter of November 13th last, enclosing Fr. Michael Barth's homily given during your monthly retreat in China, Indiana. With cordial regards, I remain 11/27/2009 - Cardinal - Vatican.

5. Thank you for your letter addressed to Cardinal and the books and material you enclosed from the Shepherds of Christ Ministries. The Cardinal has asked me to extend his thanks to you. Wishing God's blessing, I remain 12/4/2009 - Cardinal - Vatican.

6. I thank you very much for spreading the Priestly Newsletter for the past 15 years and for all the other pastoral and liturgical actions you undertake. You fulfil this pastoral task with an exceptional courage and continuity. I pray for your work and that of all the Shepherds of Christ Ministries and I hope you can carry on this work in the service of spiritual life. 12/1/2009 - Cardinal - Belgium

7. Thank you very much for your respectful letter, which enclosed material produced and used by the Shepherds of Christ Ministries to promote the renewal of the spiritual life and the prayer for the priests, as well as the homilies of Fr. Joseph Robinson and Fr. Michael Barth. But above all, thanks for your prayers which all of us priests need, in order to be faithful instruments of God’s grace.  11/18/2009 - Cardinal - Vatican

8. I am pleased to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 13 November 2009, wherein you kindly enclosed several publications of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. Thank you very much for your consideration in this regard. I remain grateful for your important service to the Church, and in particular to the priests and bishops. I am confident that all you do is a tremendous support to the clergy and no doubt will bear great fruit. With renewed sentiments of gratitude and warm regards 11/14/2009 - Cardinal - Vatican

9. I thank you for your recent letter to me. Thank you for the information which you have forwarded to me – along with a copy of the homilies preached by your brother, Fr. Joseph Robinson, and others. You are in my thoughts and in my prayers as you continue your apostolate. 11/16/2009 - Cardinal - Scotland

10. I recently received your letter of 13 November 2009 in which you presented a homily by Fr. Michael Barth. Thank you for your prayers and concern for me and the work; they are much appreciated. In reviewing the materials on your website, it appears that your materials may be available in Italian as well as in English. If you have materials in Italian I would be interested in seeing those in lieu of the materials in English. If the materials are only available in English then we would be most happy with those items. Availing ourselves of this opportunity to express our thankfulness and to extend our best wishes for a blessed Advent 12/4/2009 - Cardinal - Vatican

11. Please accept my appreciation for your letter of November 13, current. My commitment to remember in prayer the efforts of the Shepherds to support priestly formation and lifestyle. Your practice of perpetual adoration before the Blessed Sacrament is a wonderful expression of the kind of entrustment to the Lord of those many needs which priesthood in the contemporary Church continues to experience. Before the same Altar, kindly remember me and those associated with me in the service. 11/16/2009 - Cardinal - Vatican

12. Thank you very much for your wonderful letter and for the Homily sent on November 13, 2009. Please be assured of my prayers for you and your wonderful ministry. 12/2/2009 - Bishop - USA

13. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness! I have received Fr. Joe Robinson’s Cycle C, Guiding Light Feed My Soul along with the prayer cards and the CD titled The Priest, A Gift from God. I will share these with the priests and the faithful of the Diocese. May God shower his blessings upon you this holy Season of Advent and Christmas! 12/10/2009 - Bishop - USA

14. Thank you for the books and materials you sent me. Your support for all priests is very much included. I pray for you and your ministry – Shepherds of Christ Ministries. God bless you. 11/11/2009 - Bishop - USA

15. Thank you very much for the book of homilies and other prayer cards from the Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I will enjoy reading your book – During this Year for Priests, I commend you for the good work you are doing for the Church and for priests, and pray that the Lord will continue to bless you and your work. Please keep me in your daily prayers, as you are assured of my prayers. 11/12/2009 - Bishop - USA

16. His Excellency has asked me to thank you for the gracious communication of November 13, 2009, and especially for all the documents which you sent. The Bishop is grateful for your thoughtfulness and kindness in sending this information to him. 11/17/2009 - Bishop - USA

17. Thank you for your recent letter and for the items from Shepherds of Christ. I look forward to listening to the CD and to reading the homilies. 11/6/2009 - Bishop - USA

18. Thank you so very much for the many ways that you express your love for Jesus and Mary and your love for priests. I am most grateful to you for your prayers, especially before the Blessed Sacrament. I thank you for this current mailing, very especially for the homilies of your brother, Fr. Joseph Robinson, on Cycle C. May God continue to bless you and your ministry in rich abundance! 11/9/2009 - Bishop - USA

19. Thank you for your letter of November 13^th and also, for the information on the ministry of Shepherds of Christ Ministries along with the book, booklets, cards and CD. May God continue to bless you and your ministry. 11/9/2009 - Bishop - USA

20. I thank you for your letter of November 13, 2009 with Guiding Light, the book of homilies for Cycle C, by your brother, Fr. Joe Robinson, as well as a CD recording of Fr. Michael Barth and various other materials relating to Shepherds of Christ Ministries. With my appreciation and an assurance of my prayerful best wishes. 11/9/2009 - Apostolic Nuncio - USA

21. Thank you for your recent letter and for the various materials from the Shepherds of Christ Ministry. I appreciate your kindness in forwarding these materials and look forward to reviewing them. With prayerful best wishes. 11/9/2009 - Bishop - USA

22. Thank you for the very helpful books that will help us celebrate The Year for Priests. I am grateful to you and those who serve with you for all that you do to support us priests. It pleased me especially to know the hours that are spent before the Blessed Sacrament. That is the most wonderful gift. God’s peace to all. 11/10/2009 - Bishop - USA

23. It is with sincere appreciation that I received your letter of November 13, 2009 and the information you sent on the Shepherds of Christ Ministries. Thank you for the materials you sent on your ministry for priests, including the book Guiding Light and the CD The Priest – A Gift From God. Thank you also for your kind words, and for the work you do in support of our priests. In this the Year For Priests, may our Lady, the Mother of all priests, bless your efforts and endeavors to promote a greater love and appreciation for the holy priesthood. And let us continue to remember and pray for all priests, to grow in love, fidelity, and courage in the service of the people of God and of the Church. 11/10/2009 - Bishop - USA

24. Thank you for your letter and for the enclosed book, Guiding Light: Feed My Soul, CD, The Priest: A Gift from God, and materials. I appreciate you thinking of me and taking the time to send them. Be assured of my prayers for you. May the Lord bless you with His love and mercy. 11/11/2009 - Bishop - USA.

25. Many thanks for your recent letter and for the many years your group has been praying in prayer chapters in all parts of the world. It is overwhelming to hear that prayers are offered for our intentions every day, at all hours of the day. What a wonderful gift you are to us. Thank you for sending me a copy of the homily by Fr. Michael Barth given during a retreat in China, Indiana. With gratitude to you and all your associates in the Shepherds of Christ Ministries for your continued remembrance of us and with the assurance of my own prayers for you. 11/11/2009 - Archbishop - USA

26. Thank you for your letter and for your many kind gifts. I am grateful for your thoughtfulness and generosity, and I appreciate very much your continued prayerful support of my brother priests and me. Please also know of my appreciation for your work to advance the Kingdom of God through Shepherds of Christ Ministries. 11/12/2009 - Bishop - USA

27. I would like to thank you for sharing with me the book Guiding Light: Feed My Soul, CD and other pamphlets. I am sure your efforts in putting together these materials will be greatly rewarded. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and prayers. 11/11/2009 - Bishop - USA

28. On behalf of Bishop, thank you very much for the copy of the book, Guiding Light: Feed My Soul – Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson and the CD: the Priest A gift from God – Recording of Fr. Michael Barth. Bishop is currently out of the office, but will no doubt appreciate your thoughtfulness in remembering him with this gift. 11/15/2009 - Bishop - USA

29. The book Guiding Light: Feed My Soul and The Priest: A Gift from God DVD which you were kind enough to send to Archbishop arrived and he has asked me to thank you for your thoughtfulness in providing this gift. 11/17/2009 - Archbishop -USA

30. A word of thanks for the material I just received and your letter of November 13^th. Our priests will be on retreat beginning November 30^th. I am sure that your prayers will help them have a wonderful spiritual experience. 11/18/2009 - Bishop - USA

 

Responses from Priests

31. Thank you for sending Fr. Robinson's book of homilies for Cycle C. Actually you had given me a copy earlier, and now I can share this treasure with another priest. And a treasure it is, both the introduction and homily text. I sincerely hope the holiest Birthday anniversary will be a religious experience for you and all of Shepherds of Christ.  12/20/2009 - priest - Ohio 

32. Just a small devotion to let you know I enjoy reading Fr. Joe's homilies. God bless you and your ministry in 2010. 12/23/2009 - priest - Kentucky 

33. Thank you for Guiding Light by your brother, Fr. Joseph Robinson. I greatly appreciate this gift and I thank you very much. This "Feed My Soul" is based on the Sunday Gospels of Year C — Do you still have spare copies for Years A and B? What do they sell for? Thank You. Enjoy the Christmas Season. 12/2009 - priest - Florida 

34. Please accept this donation to help in some small way the apostolate you have so devotedly engaged in for the glory of God and the spiritual growth of his people. 2009 – priest - Ohio

35. Greetings from Ohio. And Merry Christmas! Thanks for the book of Fr. Joe's homilies. I've used it already today in my own homily. I remember you from the Athenaeum Chorale. 12/20/2009 – priest - Ohio

36. Greetings! Last year you sent me the book – Guiding Light: Focusing on the Word. It is a series of homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson. What a wonderful gift. I have used it for all my homilies and spiritual reading. It has been a blessing for me and even more – a blessing for my parish. I am very grateful for this gift. – 10/22/2009 – priest - Florida

37. Enclosed, please find a check for the book entitled, “Guiding Light: Feed My Soul”, by Fr. Joe Robinson. I enjoy his homiletic reflections very much. They are very helpful and spiritually uplifting. Thank you for sending the book so quickly. I received it in just a few days following my order, just in time for the First Sunday of Advent. I would be very interested in receiving the Cycle A edition when it is in print. Thanks again for all your help. 2009 – priest - Ohio  

38. Thank you so much for your gift book, “Guiding Light”. I’ve read a number of homilies, and they are really good. However, the book has already led me into sin! You see, I’ve “stolen” some of Fr. Robinson’s stories and incorporate them into my own homilies! Many blessings, and I will certainly be purchasing items from you. 2009 – priest – Ohio

39. Thank you for remembering me and for your kindness. Be assured of continual prayers for you and your family. 2009 – priest – Ohio 

40. Thanks for the copy of your brother Joe’s homilies. Years ago he and I worked together at St. Columban. He is a good friend. 12/19/2009 – priest – Ohio

41. Thank you for Father Joe’s Cycle C homilies. 12/19/2009 – priest – Ohio 

42. Thanks for the book. Enclosed please find check. 12/2009 – priest – Ohio 

43. Merry Christmas and I blessed New Year. Thanks for your prayers for priests. You also will be remembered in my prayers. 12/2009 – priest – Ohio 

44. Thank you for the book gift of “Guiding Light”. Much appreciated for enriched preaching. Enclosed is a little token gift. Many thanks! Christmas cheer and blessings! 12/22/09 – priest – Ohio 

45. Thanks for the good work. May the Lord receive your prayers for all priests. 12/2009 – priest - Florida 

46. Thanks for sending me the book “Guiding Light”. I wish you all success and for my prayers for the noble ministry you do. 12/2009 – priest – Florida 

47. Thank you for sharing Fr. Joseph Robinson’s homilies with me. May God bless you and your apostolate for us priests! 12/24/2009 – priest – Indiana 

48. Thank you for the gift of the book of homilies and especially all you do spiritually for the Church and for priests. We need more emphasis on the spiritual aspects of the priesthood, along with all the other things priests are asked to do. I do Parish Missions and realize many Catholic’s seek a deeper spiritual life along with their lived “human” life. 12/27/2009 – priest – Kentucky 

49. Many thanks for the Cycle “C” homilies by Fr. Robinson. Very insightful! God bless you in your work, that’s a tremendous apostolate. 11/19/2009 – Msgr. – PA 

50. Thank you so much for the “Cycle C” readings. I always read the “B” ones – great insights and ideas. Wishing all of you the Blessings of the Christmas Season. Hope 2010 will be a time of great joy in your ministry. 12/2009 – priest – Missouri 

51. Thank you for the complimentary copy of Guiding Light Feed My Soul – the homilies of Father Joe. I am grateful for your kindness. May God continue to bless you and your ministry in the New Year. 12/2009 – priest – Ohio 

52. Thank you for your generous gift of Fr. Robinson’s homilies and for all your care and kindnesses for priests. I too will remember you in prayer. The world needs us. May God bless you and your ministries. 12/2009 – priest – Ohio 

53. Thanks a lot for your lovely greetings. I appreciate your love and prayers. Wish you a hope-filled 2010 – with New Year blessings! 12/29/2009 – priest – Kentucky

54. Thank you for the book “Guiding Light” for the Cycle C Readings. May God bless all of you with the best of health and peace throughout the coming New Year! 12/23/2009 – priest – Indiana 

55. A word of gratitude for your prayers, ministry, and copy of “Guiding Light”! God bless your dedicated work in His vineyard! 12/28/2009 – priest – Indiana 

56. Thank you for the homily book – I used them a lot last year. I really appreciate them. 12/2009 – priest – Florida 

57. Thank you for your greetings and the copy of “Guiding Light” I find his books very helpful. 12/7/2009 – priest – Illinois 

58. Thank you for mailing me free copy of Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson. I enjoy reading his homilies. In the past you sent me that of another Cycle. Happy New Year to all in Shepherds of Christ Ministries. 1/7/2010 – priest – Florida 

59. Many thanks for the gift of your brother’s book of homilies. I am 90, in a nursing home, sometimes with two Masses a day, and I need some ideas for homilies. 1/7/2010 – Msgr. – Ohio 

60. I am delighted to have your greetings at Christmas, with all those dear names personally signed. Thank you. The photo of Fr. Carter with John and Rita is good. 1/5/2010 – priest – Ohio. 

61. I was so happy and overjoyed to receive this past Advent the best Christmas present – one that I had wished for – in your brother’s Cycle c homilies – Guiding Light. The book cover is beautiful and when Cycle B ended I said to myself I wish I had the new cycle, but alas, I didn’t know where I was going to get it…Then like an answer to prayer, it was in the mail! I was already missing his homilies at the beginning of December until the book arrived. I love the cover and I love the work you are doing. In the Year of the Priesthood this is certainly a welcome gift and presentation to the priests. And for me the best Christmas gift. And it came free!! The cover is great, the print is nice and big and easy to read, and the thoughts, of course, are great. One week Fr. Robinson talked about how long he was in a parish and changes, and I could use that talk myself. So the Scripture, reflections, homilies, and personal antidotes are perfect. With your generous gift you have certainly made it a blessed and Merry Christmas for me. Thank you for your prayers before the Blessed Christmas and be assured of our prayers every week when we pull out “Guiding Light – Feed my Soul” for encouraging words for our parishioners here. 1/10/2010 – priest - Florida  

62. Thank you! Great work – great book! 1/2010 – priest – Washington DC 

63. Thank you for your letter and the book of your brother’s homilies, as well as for all your prayers. You and everyone at Shepherds of Christ Ministries are doing wonderful work. 1/18/2010 – priest – Washington DC

64. Hey I just wanted to call you and say blessings – this is simply just an affirmation call. I got in the mail a while back Guiding Light – the Word Alive in Our Hearts – Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson. I have to admit this has been one of the most edifying pieces of literature I have received in my hands in a long time. Fr. Joe’s homilies are inspiring, they are just wonderful. They are absolutely wonderful. I would love to hear this man preach. I mean that assuming that from what I saw – He’s still around – 40 years – it says on the back here – I haven’t read it thoroughly.  – it even has a song – the song about priests! What an edifying thing that Christ has given to you – the Holy Spirit given to you. I just want to say from one of the priests out here in the trenches along with the great laity of the Church – Thank you! What a blessing this has been to me. So I would love to integrate this in some how, and thank you for the mission of the Shepherds of Christ. What an edifying thing for us today. So no need to call back, but I would just give you my cell phone number. And there’s no need to call back or anything. You got tons on your plate already and everything. But I mean these were just blessed homilies – I would like to see if there is a continuing of Fr. Joe’s homilies and the series and stuff. So anyway – my opinion for whatever it counts. Blessings to you this Christmas season and may the Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints just fill you with Christ’s presence. Talk to you later. – 12/30/2008 – priest - Kentucky

Give a gift that lasts.

        

NEW! — 11" St. Michael - $40.00 plus shipping