Schedule for October 20, 2003

                    Today's Gospel

Mark 10: 35-45 

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him. ‘Master,’ they said to him, ‘We want you to do us a favour.’ He said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I shall drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I shall be baptised?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I shall drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I shall be baptised you shall be baptised, but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.’

When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John, so Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that among the gentiles those they call their rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of man himself came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

Messenger:        I am waiting today long to hear your
                            voice oh Lord.

                         I am but a little baby longing for your
                            favors.

Jesus speaks:    Oh My child, harken to Me, the days are
                            days of preparing one's heart for Me.

                        The time is short and you labor not
                            in vain, you labor as one working
                            to build the cabinet.

                        I am the carpenter, I have the Plan,
                            you are the one ready and willing
                            to listen and I stress the words
                            willingness.

                        An old mule does not want to move.
                        A little sheep follows the herd.

                        I am the Good Shepherd, I lead
                            and you follow Me.

                        You are My leaders, when others
                            have swayed away from Me —
                            you follow My lead, you
                            walk out front, you follow
                            the teachings of the Church, but
                            you walk in the ways of
                            holiness, always, your focus
                            is always on your reward to come,
                            you live to be with Me in heaven,
                            what motivates you is love.

                        Your heart is consumed with love for
                            God.

                        You walk a straight path, you follow
                            My way, you are not led astray
                            by whims and ways of the world —

                        You are the peace maker —
                            making peace by following Me —

                            there is in many circles a false
                            peace, where one feels security
                            in the things of the world and
                            following many other gods —

                        but I speak of peace, not as the
                            world gives you, but deep peace
                            in your hearts —

                            a soul that rests in Me —
                            a soul that is not troubled by a
                                wrestling spirit inside that
                            may be seeking power and glory for
                                themselves — vain glory —

                        A man went out to a farm and he saw
                            the animals grazing in the field,
                            he saw the chickens and he saw
                            the workings that occurred every day.

                            One could be amazed how things
                                work so smoothly on the farm
                                day after day, if the animals
                                receive a little care, they
                                can still survive and be
                                helpful to supply the eggs
                                and milk needed.

                        I am the Divine dresser, I dress the
                            fields, I give them the sunlight
                            and the rain, I give you the
                            animals as friends to be with
                            you and help you, I give you
                            the grass and the trees and
                            the apples of the earth.

                        The sun comes up every day —

Jesus speaks:    The moon can light a darkened night —

                        Some never stop to even reflect on the
                            gifts I have given —

                        In giving you Myself and the Virgin Mary
                            on the building — I give you a great
                            sign for the people.

                        They have become accustomed to the sunlit
                            days and darkened nights — they do not
                            reflect on the fruit on the trees,
                            the eggs from the chickens, they
                            may take it all for granted —

                            day after day without a thought of
                                the Creator —

                            month after month —

                            year after year —

                        I give you the image in Florida and
                            the wallet pictures as a gift to
                            give to people to let them know
                            Mary appears as Mother for the
                            children. When you give someone the
                            picture and tell them about the
                            camera, it can open a door to all
                            the prayers, words and messages
                            I have spoken to My people.

                        It is an opportunity for some of them to
                            open the First Blue Book and
                            read My letters of love.

                        I want you to give the wallet pictures to
                            the people you feel you should
                            speak to.

                        Send them to the camera and the web —
                            site by telling them how they can
                            see Mary on the building and see
                            the image as it is right now.                   

                        They will see Mary appear and it 
                            affects many unbelievers.
                            They are awed.

                        I am the Divine dresser, I give you
                            life. I love you so very much.

                        The fields can be dry and in need of
                            water and the rain comes to refresh
                            and help promote the growth.

                        I am the New Adam, I appear in
                            My garden in Florida to lead
                            the people to the burning embers
                            of My love.

                        I love My People.

                        I give My life for them.

                        In the state the world is in today —
                            Why do you not think I would
                            appear, the New Adam, the One
                            Who gave His life for you on the
                            cross in a "would-be" garden
                            of sorts — one where the Mother
                            would appear to lead her
                            children home to My heart.

                        Mary appears in Clearwater —
                            Mary appears the pure one —
                            Clear water —
                            Men are tainted in their ways —
                            She appears to lead them to
                                the flow of cleaning waters —
                            You pray for the priests, the Church
                            and the world from under our
                            images in Clearwater, Florida.

April 5, 2002

Jesus speaks:        Florida, a state of sun
                                Mary appears the Lady

                                Clothed with the sun.

Revelation 19: 5-10

Then a voice came from the throne; it said, ‘Praise our God, you servants of his and those who fear him, small and great alike.’ And I heard what seemed to be the voices of a huge crowd, like the sound of the ocean or the great roar of thunder, answering, ‘Alleluia! The reign of the Lord our God Almighty has begun; let us be glad and joyful and give glory to God, because this is the time for the marriage of the Lamb. His bride is ready, and she has been able to dress herself in dazzling white linen, because her linen is made of the good deeds of the saints.’ The angel said, ‘Write this, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb," ’ and he added, ‘These words of God are true.’ Then I knelt at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘Never do that: I am your fellow–servant and the fellow–servant of all your brothers who have in themselves the witness of Jesus. God alone you must worship.’ The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Jesus speaks:        Oh My people walk the straight line

                                that My children will see your
                                works, see your example and in
                                the world of much sin they will see
                                your good example and follow My way.

                            You are My faithful ones — you
                                must walk as I walked even
                                though the world may go astray —

                            but to you whom I talk if you
                                do not follow Me, who will they
                                follow when you give into the
                                ways of satan.

                            Parents are examples for their children.

                            Satan is trying to discredit this powerful
                                way that children can be led
                                to the truth by watching holy parents.

                            The Church is My bride —
                                The Church gives you the Mass —

                                You are given the sacraments —

                            I give you My Movement today —
                                in the state the world is in to
                                pray for the priests, the Church
                                and the world.

                            Catholic schools need to be holy.

                            Parents need to live holy lives.

                            People in the Church need to be leading

                                people to holier lives.

                            Priests need to be holy.

                            I have given these prayers to you to

                                pray for this.

                            I am the Good Shepherd

John 10: 11-15 

I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd lays down his life
   for his sheep.
The hired man,
   since he is not the shepherd
and the sheep do not belong to him,
abandons the sheep
as soon as he sees a wolf coming,
   and runs away,
and then the wolf attacks
   and scatters the sheep;
he runs away
  because he is only a hired man
and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd;
I know my own
and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me
and I know the Father;
and I lay down my life for my sheep.

    

Excerpt from Shepherds of Christ Priestly Newsletter  
November/December 1994

Chief Shepherd of the Flock

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. (Jn 10:11-15¹)

Yes, the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for His sheep. The Good Shepherd’s magnificent Heart, overflowing with love for His Father and all of us, was pierced so that the waters of our salvation might flow forth: “It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the sabbath—since that sabbath was a day of special solemnity—the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance. And immediately there came out blood and water.” (Jn 19: 31-34).

Bonaventure, the Franciscan saint and doctor of the Church, comments on the pierced Heart of the Good Shepherd: “Then, in order that the Church might be formed out of the side of Christ sleeping on the cross…the divine plan permitted that one of the soldiers pierce open His sacred side with a lance. While blood mixed with water flowed, the price of our salvation was poured forth, which gushing forth from the sacred fountain of the heart gave power to the sacraments of the Church…”²

Another doctor of the Church, St. Augustine, also refers to the source of life which is the pierced Heart of Jesus: “On the cross he made a great exchange. There the purse which held our price was opened, for when the soldier’s spear opened his side, the price of the whole world flowed forth.”³

Finally, we have the words of the Church herself concerning the pierced Heart of Jesus. In the preface for the Mass of the Sacred Heart we read in part: “Lifted high on the cross, Christ gave his life for us, so much did he love us. From his wounded side flowed blood and water, the fountain of sacramental life in the Church. To his open heart the Savior invites all…to draw water in joy from the springs of salvation.”⁴

Yes, the Church reminds us that Jesus the Good Shepherd invites all to come to His open Heart, this Heart which symbolizes His love and calls for our love in return. The Church invites all to come to Jesus’ pierced Heart in order to be clothed with the graces which the Heart of Jesus longs to give us in abundance. We priests have the privilege and responsibility to lead the members of Jesus’ flock to the pierced Heart of Jesus in order that they may be showered with the graces which are necessary for their salvation and ongoing sanctification. As a good shepherd under Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, the priest has to lead the sheep to the only source of true nourishment, the pierced Heart of Christ. The more we priests ourselves dwell within the pierced Heart of Jesus, as the Church invites all to do, the more we are able to lead others to this sacred refuge and source of all spiritual nourishment. As we ourselves dwell within the pierced Heart of Jesus, Christ gives us an increased awareness of how much He loves each person with the most special and unique love. Jesus has chosen each priest to be a most special ambassador to spread the message of this overwhelming love of His Heart for each individual. The more we priests ourselves grow in the awareness of how much Jesus loves each of us as His priest-companions, the more we are able to teach to others the truth of Jesus’ special love for each individual. And the more we priests realize how much Jesus wants the love of each individual, the more we are also able to teach His truth to others.

Jesus suffered and died for the entire human race, but He did it in a manner which makes it true to say He also did it for each individual in a most special way. Notice how personalized St. Paul makes the redemptive suffering and death and love of Jesus. In the letter to the Galatians he does not use the plural, but the singular: “I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2: 19-20).

NOTES:  

1. Scriptural quotations are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, Doubleday & Co.
2. Bonaventure, tr. by E. Cousins, Paulist Press, pp. 154-155.
3. The Liturgy of the Hours, Catholic Book Publishing Co., Vol. IV, 1727.
4. The Sacramentary, Catholic Book Publishing Co., p. 463.

Messenger:        The Good Shepherd scripture

                            follows the blind men in John.

Ezekiel 34: 11-16

We need money for the

English speaking priestly mailing.

Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 193
Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193

Telephone: (toll free) 1-888-211-3041 or (513) 932-4451
FAX: (513) 932-6791