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Shepherds of Christ |
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Shepherds of Christ |
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May 30, 2012
May 31st Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 2 Period I.The Novena Rosary Mysteries
for May 31st are Joyful.
It is ready to go.
Please pray for
Amanda.
Jesus speaks: I want Blue Book 7 printed and distributed.
Ask for help with publishing and
distributing the rest of
the states with Fr. Joe's homily book —
Right awayR. We have distributed 30,000 books to 30 states
to priests in the United States for their
weekly use in homilies focused on the
Word and the Eucharist —Help us get out the remaining
states and books to the priests
in the United States —Pray for the pope, cardinals and bishops and
priests in these 8 days of
prayer in May
May 2nd - May 5th
May 10th - May 13th
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the useful book "Guiding Light, Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson." I can use all the help I can get to prepare my Sunday Homilies. Count on my prayers for you and for your Spiritual family. At the same time, I beg for your prayers on my behalf, asking Our Lord for the holy grace of perseverance in my vocation all the days of my life.
There will be a special procession
on June 13th.Fr. Don will say Mass at 12:30pm
for the Feast of St. Anthony.
We pray for you from our church
in China, Indiana.
Call Rosie
1-888-211-3041
May 2nd - May 13th
(Sale extended to May 31, 2012)Special sale statue with glass
$50 plus shipping
12" Our Lady of Grace
12" Our Lady of Guadalupe
11" Our Lady of Fatima
15" Pilgrim Virgin Fatima
24" Pilgrim Virgin Fatima
w/crown - $300
8 x 10 picture Lady of Clearwater $3.50
Statues of Jesus available with glass for $150
12" Sacred Heart w/glass
12" Infant of Prague w/glass
12" Holy Family —
little child Jesus with Sacred Heart w/glass
Please pray for some special intentions.
Through the intercession
of Fr. Carter
and
Our Lady of Clearwater
please pray for Dan's healing.
Please pray for Betty, Jimmy &Adeline.
Pray for Hal Wittrock & family
May 30, 2012
Fr. Joe a priest
48 years today —
Pray for him —
Thank God for him —
Pray for special intentions.
Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection
Easter
April 12, 2009
HOMILY: This funny story is old, but even if you’ve heard it before, you might enjoy it again. There was an old couple who argued a lot, and they decided to travel before they died. One place they wanted to see was Israel. While they were there, the wife died. When the husband tried to see what arrangements he could make for her funeral, the mortician told him she could be buried in Israel for $2,000 or they could send her body home to the United States, but it would cost $20,000 to transport her. He thought for a moment and said we’ll send her to the United States. A friend asked why he would spend so much money to send her back home. He said, “one time a person rose from the dead here in Israel and I can’t take that chance.”
Our faith tells us one person did indeed rise from the dead, Jesus Christ, and if it weren’t for his resurrection we would never have heard of him. He was a good and holy man who was a wise teacher and a powerful healer but, unlike with other religious leaders, if it weren’t for Jesus’ actual resurrection, his followers would never have had the courage to preach about him to the world. [for Sunday morning: Remember Peter who denied Christ. We hear him preaching with boldness to a pagan audience in today’s first reading.] The apostles had nothing to gain in this world from talking about him except rejection and martyrdom. But they had to proclaim him to the world because they had seen him after the resurrection, he sent them out to continue his work, he promised to be with them and they wanted to be with him and these things they couldn’t deny.
Their “good news” about the resurrection spread against all odds, persecution, heresy, sinful leadership and a way of life that demanded unselfishness and self-sacrifice. Their promise was a promise of new life, eternal life, to those who heard the “good news” and believed in it. Their promise was a promise of risen life for those who are born again into Christ’s life. We hear Paul proclaim this in today’s epistle: “we were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.” (Rom 6,4 – from Vigil) This is echoed in our epistle for Easter Sunday from Colossians “You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” (Col 3,3-4 – Easter Sunday).
Our bodies will rise again on the last day, but not all will rise to glory. The bible tells us in the book of Daniel: “Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Dan. 12,2) It is not our place to decide which group certain of our acquaintances might end up in. We cannot judge anyone’s heart, only God can. It’s our place to know that we are saved, not by our own power, but through our union with the glorified and risen Christ and to find peace in knowing that God’s mercy is offered to all who seek him.
And that is the challenge of the resurrection. Again, quoting the letter to the Colossians: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” (Col. 3,1-2) If we want to live new life with Christ in eternity, we must live his new life now.
Hopefully, our Easter celebration will inspire us to leave today with a new resolve to praise the Lord (this is what “Alleluia” means) and to rejoice and be glad because this is the day the Lord has made; this is the day that is a source of hope and salvation for us. Amen.
Second Sunday of Easter
April 19, 2009
INTRODUCTION: I’ve asked you to greet one another as Mass began in order to create a sense of community. This is an important theme in today’s Scriptures. People often ask me, for example: “who is that person who sits in such and such a place at the 10:00 Mass.” We have great people in our parish but most people do not know it. They just know a few close friends perhaps. It would be so easy when you are on the way to church or after Mass to just go up to someone you don’t know, put out your hand and say: “hello, I’m so and so. What’s your name?” If you forget it the next time you see them ask again. I do it all the time. The theme of community is expressed in today’s first reading by the care the early Christians had for one another. Unfortunately, this idyllic moment for the early Church did not last. There were those who tried to cheat on the system of sharing their possessions in common, there were defections from the community when persecutions came, there were heresies and there were those who broke away and began a church of their own. The unity Jesus prayed for so earnestly at the Last Supper was short-lived.
HOMILY: We heard about the early Christians’ love for one another. How they loved one another was one of the big attractions of the early Church. In today’s gospel, there is another very clear picture of how important community is. The apostles were gathered together on Easter Sunday night when Jesus appeared to them. But Thomas wasn’t with them. We’re not told why. Maybe he was daring enough to go out for food and supplies while the others huddled together in fear that the Roman soldiers or the Jewish religious leaders might come to get them next, maybe he was depressed and wanted to be left alone, maybe he just went out for a walk. For whatever reason Thomas missed getting to see Jesus. He was absent from the community. While all the other apostles as well as the women who had seen Jesus earlier in the day were excited about the resurrection, he must have had a miserable week. It’s interesting that it wasn’t until a week later when Jesus showed himself again. This second appearance is likely an indication, perhaps inspired by Jesus himself, that, from the beginning, the first day of the week was to be the day for the Christian assembly to gather together to celebrate and to participate in Jesus’ saving death and resurrection.
When Thomas was with the others Jesus appeared again. Thomas came to believe. This event shows us how hard it is to believe sometimes, and it also shows us how gathering with the faith community can help our own faith. We don’t know whether Thomas actually felt Jesus’ hands and side, but Thomas’ mind and heart moved beyond mere physical recognition to the most explicit profession of faith in Christ to be found in the Scriptures: “My lord and my God.” It is an expression we were taught to say to ourselves when the priest held up the host and the chalice at the consecration. I still say it in my mind. I wonder how many other people do.
Even the forgiveness of sins, a spiritual power which Christ entrusted to his apostles and which we hear about in today’s gospel, when it was officially administered sacramentally, was, originally, administered not privately, but was expressed as a reconciliation with the community. People who had sinned seriously were, in effect, excommunicated; they could not participate in the Mass or Communion and they had to do penance before they could officially rejoin the community. That’s the way the sacrament of reconciliation was performed in the first few hundred years of the Church’s history.
St. Paul tells us people who think they don’t need the Church are like a part of the body that says I don’t need the rest of the body. We need to be part of a faith community to be nourished spiritually. Jesus promised he would be with us when two or three are gathered together in his name. As he tells us in John 6, we especially need to meet him weekly in the Eucharist to be taught by him in the Scriptures and to be fed by his body and blood without which there is no life in us.
May our gathering together today help us experience his peace, recognize him in faith, unite us with him in love, and deepen our love for one another. Amen.
The Ascension
Third Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2009
INTRODUCTION: We take so many of our blessings for granted until, God forbid, we lose one. Take for example the ability to walk. We injure a knee or some part wears out and we find it painful or impossible to do many of the things we just took for granted. What if we were lame from birth and could never join in other kids’ games because we couldn’t run or walk. There used to be a sick joke about a kid like that who wanted to be on the local baseball team, so his buddies let him play and they used him for third base!
A very short time after Jesus’ ascension Peter and John were on their way to the Temple to pray. There was a lame man sitting at the Temple entrance. In that culture, it was bad enough to be handicapped, but a person like that was looked down upon because it was everyone’s belief that he must have been a great sinner and he was suffering for his sins. The lame man asked Peter and John for a little money as they passed. Peter said, “I don’t have any money, but I will give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.” Then Peter helped him to his feet and he was healed. He was so excited, he jumped and danced and praised God. Of course, this created quite a commotion and everyone wondered what had happed. Peter took the opportunity to explain. He credits it all to Jesus. Today’s first reading is part of his explanation.
HOMILY: I’m sure most of us have had wonderful life-changing events we could talk about, getting a good job; meeting a wonderful person who changed our life, whether it was a teacher, a friend, or someone who eventually became our spouse; the birth of a dearly loved son or daughter; inheriting a large sum of money; finding a cure for a chronic illness. The lame man I talked about in my introduction, whose healing is described in the third chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, certainly had his life changed dramatically by this encounter with Peter and John.
Today we hear again about the Resurrection of Jesus. Easter is too big a feast to celebrate just one day. We celebrate it for fifty days, and then we continue to celebrate it every Sunday when we gather in faith to meet our risen Lord in the Eucharist. Our gospel today takes us back to Easter Sunday. In the afternoon of Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to two of his disciples. They were walking away from Jerusalem, discouraged and depressed over Jesus’ death. Jesus walked with them, talked to them about the Scriptures, and when he broke bread with them they recognized him. They came running back to the upper room to tell the others. When they got there, they were told Jesus had appeared to Peter and then suddenly Jesus appeared to all of them. In spite of the appearances in the early morning to the women, to the two disciples, and to Peter, Luke tells us the apostles were “terribly frightened.” I suppose that would be a normal reaction. Jesus assured them he was very much alive and very well. They could see him and touch him. To give them further proof, he asked for something to eat. He ate something they themselves had prepared to convince them he was real and that they weren’t seeing a ghost or seeing him was something out of their own imagination. I have to pause here to tell you something cute. I’ve told this before so pardon me for repeating it: A mother proudly told her pastor: “My teenage son has finally learned one bible verse. It’s Luke 24, verse 41 where Jesus says to his disciples: ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’”
Whatever wonderful life-changing events we might think of, the Resurrection of Jesus is the most wonderful life-changing event ever. Because Jesus rose from the dead, our world is a different world. Because Jesus rose from the dead, evil and hatred and suffering have been overpowered. They still hang around inflicting difficulties on us, but their power has been broken by the glory of the Resurrection. Because Jesus rose from the dead, death no longer has the last word over any of us. Death has been overcome by life, eternal life. Even sin will not win out, but forgiveness in Jesus’ name will destroy sin. Sin and evil will keep on trying to pull us down and destroy us, but in Christ we are raised up. We must be careful not to give in to sin’s destructiveness, John tells us in today’s second reading, and the way not to give in is to keep his commandments so his love can be perfected in us. Because Jesus rose from the dead, even fear cannot hold on to us for long, for Jesus came to us offering us peace. Notice that Jesus’ first word to the apostles was “peace.” Our world is a totally different world now after Jesus’ Resurrection. But if it continues to look the same to all of us, with evil and hatred and suffering, maybe we who have been changed by the resurrection are not doing what Jesus said to do. We heard him say at the end of today’s gospel: “you are witnesses of these things.” This world-changing event has happened and we hope to share in its blessings. It partly depends on us, however, to bring those blessings to the world around us through the witness of our lives, our goodness, our love, our peace and our joy. Let’s pause for a moment to ask ourselves how we can witness more fully the Resurrection. Amen.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 3, 2009
INTRODUCTION: Last week I spoke about how Peter and John healed a crippled beggar in the Temple. The healed man jumped up and down and was walking around which caused a great amount of commotion in the Temple. The people wanted to know what happened and how it had happened. Peter gave all the credit to Jesus who, in his risen presence, healed the man through the Apostles. When the Jewish religious leaders, many of whom did not believe in any kind of resurrection, heard Peter’s witness, they arrested Peter and John and took them to court. Today we hear a portion of Peter’s testimony. The important thing to notice is not only what Peter had to say about Jesus but also his boldness. The court didn’t know what to do with Peter and John because all the people were excited about the healing of a man who had been lame for over 40 years. So the court warned the Apostles not to talk about Jesus any more. The Apostles would not be intimidated, however, for they were now filled with the Holy Spirit. [Acts 4, 8-12]
HOMILY: Jesus tells us: “I am the good shepherd.” Today is often called Good Shepherd Sunday because every year on the fourth Sunday of Easter, we hear a passage from St. John’s 10th chapter [Jn. 10, 11-18] which is about Jesus as our shepherd.
Today Jesus tells us about two kinds of shepherds. There is the kind of shepherd who owns his or her own sheep and there are shepherds who are hired by a farmer to protect and care for sheep that belong to someone else. The second kind, the hired shepherds, run away when danger comes, while those who own their sheep fight hard to protect what is their own, sometimes getting hurt badly or even getting killed. Jesus is telling us he would be killed to protect and save us, but he would return to life again – which he did. This shows us, first of all, how much he cares for us. He would fight to the bitter end for us. It also shows us how powerful he is that he can lay down his life and take it up again. Peter tells us in today’s second reading that Jesus is the only one we can safely follow in order to be saved,.
Jesus tells us something else about shepherds today - they know their sheep and the sheep know their shepherds. It’s just the same way we know our pets at home. How do they know one another so well – because they spend a lot of time together. Sheep take a lot of care and the shepherd is with his or her sheep 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Jesus is with us all the time and knows us better than we know ourselves (all the hairs on our heads are numbered – do any of us know ourselves that well?) If we don’t know him very well, we need to spend more time with him; and that’s called prayer.
When I think of shepherds, I always remember 20 years ago when I climbed Mt. Sinai (I’m glad I did it then, because I couldn’t do it any more – it’s very rugged and steep) and on the way down, I saw a shepherd and her sheep on a near-by hill. It was just getting dark. She started playing her flute and headed in a direction away from where we were; the sheep just fell in line following her. It was all the sheep trusted her knew how much they depended on her. It was a beautiful scene.
The metaphor is obvious. Christ is our shepherd. He wants us to trust him and follow him. Sometimes following him can get a little frightening; we don’t know where he’s taking us or what he might ask of us. Sometimes when he takes us through the desert, as shepherds need to do at times when they want to bring their sheep to better grazing ground, we ask why is he doing this to us? That’s why he is always telling us we need to have faith in him. That’s also why we need to pray - so we will have faith in him. Amen.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2009
INTRODUCTION [Acts 9, 26-31; I John 3, 18-24; John 15, 1-8] Many of the Jews, because they were under Roman occupation, had two names - a Roman name and a Jewish name. Thus Paul also had the name Saul. Most of the time he is called Paul, but occasionally, as in today’s first reading, he is called Saul. You remember he was a zealous Pharisee and a fierce persecutor of all who believed in Christ. On one occasion, as he was on his way to Damascus to search out Christians and arrest them, Jesus appeared to him. He immediately discovered Christians had it right and what he was doing was entirely wrong. His life turned around completely and he began preaching and teaching about Jesus. Even after three years in and around Damascus, preaching that Jesus was the Son of God, the Christian community in Jerusalem was not convinced that he was for real. When he first showed up in Jerusalem, the disciples were afraid to trust him. Barnabas was a disciple they did trust and he testified that Paul was genuine. The Hellenists, in the first reading, were Greek speaking Jews who saw Paul as a traitor to Judaism.
HOMILY Happy Mothers’ Day to all our mothers. Friday we had May crowning and so the statue of Mary is still here to remind us of Mary, our spiritual mother, today too. On a Mother’s Day card, a six year-old girl wrote her Mother: “Dear Mom, I’m going to make lunch for you on Mother’s day. It’s going to be a surprise. P.S. I hope you like pizza and popcorn.”
In a recent comic strip, For Better or For Worse, Elly, a young mom, had a horrible day caring for her two toddlers who were sick. Looking for sympathy, Elly called her own mother looking for an understanding ear. She told her mom what a horrible 24 hours she had, getting up every half hour during the night and caring for her toddlers all day – first one, then the other. She said to her mom “you don’t even get a chance to think about yourself.” Then she added I guess you went through all this with me and my brother, didn’t you?” There was a pause, then Elly said to her mom, “Er, Mom…did we ever thank you?” “Thanks” is in order constantly, but especially today. Thank you mothers for your love and unselfish dedication and patience. Without you the world would come to a screeching halt.
Jesus is telling us today, without him, all of our lives would go nowhere. He tells us: “Without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither.” When we grow up and leave home, our love and our connection with our parents may remain with us, but we are really on our own. It can never be that way with Jesus. We need our Lord when we’re 60 or 70 as much as when we’re 6 or 7. We need him all the time. If we reflect deeply, we know there is a power greater than ourselves that we depend on and that we constantly need to sustain us. We are connected with that power through Jesus, the true vine.
The prophets, hundreds of years before Christ, used the vineyard as an image of Israel. Just as a farmer would cultivate his vineyard and care for it and expect to harvest grapes from it, so God would care for his people and expect good works from them: devout worship, obedience to his commandments, justice and love for the poor and vulnerable. Jesus is telling us today that through our union with him we are God’s people.
Jesus has tried to tell us that in many ways. I would like to mention just five statements where Jesus uses metaphors that tell us how important it is that we remain united with him. Notice each of these begins with the words: “I am.” Last Sunday we heard him tell us “I am the good shepherd.” “I am the light of the world.” “I am the bread of life.” “I am the resurrection and the life.” And the fifth one we heard today: “I am the true vine.” If we had time we could reflect upon how vital each of these items is: shepherds for sheep, light and food for us, the vine for one of its branches. Since vine and branches is the theme of today’s gospel, let us stay with that image for just another few minutes.
Quite simply, a vine is an organic structure that is nurtured by the rain and the sun; it is fed by the sap that flows through the stem and the branches; it grows and produces fruit. Jesus tells us he is the true vine, drawing life from the Father and communicating that life to all those who remain united with him. In other words there is a mysterious, living connection between each of us and Christ and a mysterious and living connection uniting us with one another through our union with Christ.
St. Paul used a similar metaphor when he wrote that we are the body of Christ. He tells us Christ is head of the body and we are the members. We are feet, hands, arms, legs, etc. through whom Christ lives in the world today. We are united with Christ and with each other through the Spirit. Pope Pius XII wrote an encyclical called the Mystical Body of Christ describing this union. This is not a connection we can examine under a microscope or test for in any other way, other than the test Jesus gave us when he said “by their fruits you will know them.” The way we live our lives shows whether we live in Christ or not.
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 17, 2009
INTRODUCTION: The issue in today’s first reading (Acts 10, 25-26,34-35,44-48) is how the Apostles (who were Jews) should deal with Gentiles (who were pagans) when these Gentiles came to believe in Jesus. The Apostles believed God revealed his law to Moses. Shouldn’t pagan converts to Jesus be required to also follow all that was in the Jewish law: circumcision, strict dietary laws, special feast days, etc.?
St. Peter, the leader of the community, received the answer to this question in a most unusual way. While Peter was in prayer, God gave Peter a vision of many different birds and animals. Many of them were birds and animals the Jews were not allowed to eat, such as pork, shrimp, clams, oysters and many other creatures. (Lev. 11,1-23) God told Peter to eat them. Peter said he would never eat anything forbidden. God said to him: “What God has made clean, you are not to call unclean.” God said this three times to Peter. When the vision disappeared, God told Peter there were some men coming to see him and he was to go with them to the home of a Gentile named Cornelius, a high officer in the Roman army. A strict Jew was not allowed to enter a Gentile’s house, but God told him to, so he did. When Peter got there he spoke to Cornelius and his relatives and friends about Jesus. As Peter finished speaking, Cornelius and all who were with him were filled with the Holy Spirit. This event is the background for today’s first reading. Peter’s entire speech is not included in the reading. The liturgy wants to get right to the point - that God’s love in Jesus is meant for all people. Peter had finally understood what God had told him in his vision, and without requiring these pagans to be circumcised or requiring them to accept Jewish traditions and customs, he gave the order that they should be baptized.
HOMILY: (2nd Reading: I Jn: 4,7-10; Gospel: Jn 15,9-17) Probably for most people it may seem like we celebrated Easter two months ago. But the Church continues to celebrate it. Our daily Masses and prayers all reflect an Easter theme and they are filled with Alleluia’s. Liturgically it’s a beautiful time of the year. We will celebrate Easter for two more weeks.
Every Easter I can’t help wondering why Jesus offers us a share in his risen life, why God wants us to live with him forever. Why doesn’t God just forget us? In this immense universe God created, we are so small. Why should God go to all the trouble he did to bring us eternal life? Maybe we’ve never asked ourselves these questions. Maybe we think we are such charming, wonderful creatures that God can’t help loving us. Well, we know we humans are not always such wonderful, charming individuals, but it is true that God can’t help loving us because that’s the way God is. God is love St. John tells us in today’s second reading. Just like the sun has to shine because that’s what the sun does, God loves us because that’s what God does. Yet in spite of our imperfections, God’s love reaches out to all people. This was the big revelation we heard about in today’s first reading. The Jews presumed they had a monopoly on God’s love. Indeed, they did have a monopoly in that God gave them the special gift of his revelation before the time of Jesus, but Jesus fulfilled all that had gone before and revealed that God is calling all people to know his saving love.
We need to know that even though God can’t help loving us, because God is love, we will never know the joy he wants to share with us, unless we follow the path he has marked out for us. In today’s gospel he tells us, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.” But just like the clouds can block the light of the sun, our sins, our indifference, our neglect can get in the way of God’s love that is there for us. He has told us what we need to do. He summed it up in his new commandment: “Love one another as I love you.” This is called a new commandment because previously he told us to love our neighbor as ourselves. That’s possible for any of us to do, but being able to love as Jesus does, to “love one another as I have loved you…,” that’s really asking a lot. Jesus is God. Can we love like God does? We can, but only with the help of his Holy Spirit who dwells in us and who seeks to transform us into being like Christ.
One of the ways he has loved us is that he laid down his life for us. Can we do that for someone? Many people do. We read about heroes all the time who have risked their lives for someone else. There are people who have dedicated their lives to a job or a vocation where they are less interested in getting rich than they are in doing good for others. I asked the school children in our upper grades yesterday “who would be willing to give up their life for another person?” Only one girl raised her hand. When I asked them if you saw a friend crossing the street and there was a car coming they didn’t see it, would you risk your life to run into the street to push them out of the way? Quite a number would. I think many of us are more Christ-like than we imagine ourselves to be. I can’t help but mention those who sacrifice their time and energy to serve those who are the most vulnerable in society - the poor, the aged and the unborn.
We have to know that when Jesus talks about “love” he’s not talking about the mating instinct, which is good but which is too often exploited in the media as the only kind of love that has any importance. Jesus is talking about giving of ourselves for the benefit of another as he did for us. When he talks about “love,” he’s not just talking about warm fuzzy feelings, which come and go, but he is talking about a dedication and commitment to serve God and others. When he’s talking about “love,” he’s not talking about always speaking of love; he’s talking about action: “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my heavenly father.” Words are important and I think married couples should tell each other they love each other and they should do it all the time, but love is more than words.
Love is the key to everything: it explains why God created us, it explains why Jesus came to earth, it explains why God wants us to live with him forever, it explains the Mass we celebrate, and it explains how we are to act toward one another. Amen.
Feast of the Ascension
May 24, 2009
– (Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20) In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke gives us a very graphic, easy to picture description of the ascension of our Lord. But he can’t describe to our satisfaction what happened to Jesus after “a cloud took him from their sight.” The cloud tells us there is much more to the ascension than we can comprehend right now. The world of God will always be mysterious to us until we get to experience it ourselves. To the extent that they can, the letters of Paul and of others in the New Testament make many attempts to describe theologically what lies beyond that cloud. For example, today’s second reading tells us Jesus’ ascension took him “far above every principality, authority, power and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.” In other words, he is greater and more exalted than all of creation. Although he was always Son of God, now, even in his humanity, he is seated at the right hand of the Father in eternal glory. It is a glory that is beyond anything we know at present but hope to share with him someday.HOMILY
I find it interesting that in the Acts of the Apostles (our first reading) St. Luke tells us Jesus ascended 40 days after Easter, but if we read the conclusion to the gospels of Mark, Luke and John, Jesus is described as ascending to the Father on Easter Sunday. This has always baffled me, but I have tried to reconcile this confusing time element by assuming Jesus’ mystical, theological entrance into the glory of the Father happened almost immediately after the resurrection. Jesus, however, made many appearances to the apostles and to others after his resurrection and I think of the ascension 40 days later, as described in today’s first reading, as the last of those appearances.
What does any of this have to do with us? How can we apply it to our own spiritual lives? I want to give four suggestions about the ascension that might have some meaning for us.
First of all, we must keep a balanced sense of who Jesus is. Sometimes we may feel very chummy with Jesus. He is our brother, our friend, our daily support, one who is understanding and loving; but he is still so awesome, so greatly exalted. He is Lord and God, he has the authority to tell us how to live and he deserves our adoration and honor. It’s fine to feel close and intimate with Jesus and he wants us to; otherwise why would he give himself to us so freely in the Eucharist. We have to balance this closeness with his greatness as our Creator to whom we owe all we have and all we are,
Second, when Jesus’ finished the job the Father had given him, he handed that job on to us. One of the last things he said was: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” Would that we could be half as enthusiastic about our faith as the people who sell products on TV worth $19.99!
Third, even though we can’t see his risen body, he is still with us. The last words in Matthew’s gospel are: “I am with you always.” Of course, the Eucharist gives us the same message each week.
My last point is an inspiration that came to me early this week as I began to meditate on the ascension. It was an idea that kept reoccurring. It seemed as if our Lord was telling me: “be sure to say this about the ascension.” Where Jesus has gone is where he wants to bring us. He didn’t come to this world just because he was bored with being in heaven and needed something else to do. He came to us and took on our human flesh for only one reason: to take us to himself and to share his life with us. At the Last Supper he told us: “I am going to get a place ready for you and I will come back and take you with me so that where I am you also may be.” Our real home is not in this world, as much as we may love our homes. Our home is to be with God. His ascension shows us what he has in mind for us. We say we believe this each week: “I believe in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.” Today’s feast is a lesson about not getting too attached to our present lives. As the letter to the Colossians said on Easter Sunday: “seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father.”
When life is comfortable for us, we don’t like to see things change. That was true of the apostles too. The apostles didn’t want Jesus to leave them, but he challenged them to move from a comfortable familiarity with him to a new way to be with him. Sometimes too he challenges us to move into unfamiliar territory, sometimes in little ways and sometimes in major ways. Sometimes events themselves, even tragic and unpleasant ones, disrupt our lives and force us to change. Life never stays the same, but the essentials of our faith continue to anchor us and call us to set our sights on what is ahead for us if we stay united with Christ. Somehow God can draw good out of everything for those who love him. If we stay one with him, we shall one day share his glory. That is our hope, no matter what comes our way.
The Assumption
Pentecost Sunday
May 31, 2009
– (Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23) The feast of Pentecost is a very ancient feast that goes back 1000 years before Christ. It was one of the three most important Jewish feasts, and it is one of our three most important feasts. Originally it was a harvest feast. Gradually it came to be a celebration of God giving his Law to the Hebrews at Mt. Sinai and establishing them as his own special people. It was as the Jews were celebrating this feast that the Holy Spirit came upon the first believers in Christ. They were sent forth in power to all people to proclaim God’s saving love demonstrated in Jesus’ death and resurrection. As I was preparing what I was going to say today, I referred to a book I have, entitled I Believe in the Holy Spirit by the Dominican theologian Fr. Yves Congar. The book is almost 700 pages long. It impressed me how much could be said about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit. Just out of curiosity I investigated how often the Holy Spirit was mentioned in the New Testament and I came up with a total of 233 times. I’m not going to try to say it all, so relax! Reading sections of the book, though, makes me realize how fortunate I am that in my job I have the opportunity and the gift to be able to read and reflect on the profound mystery of God and his presence with us in Jesus through the Spirit. (And I receive a salary for doing this! Sometimes I feel guilty taking it for something I enjoy doing so much – but then again there are enough stresses at times that make me think I shouldn’t feel guilty about taking a salary.) I am grateful to be a priest and realize that I have been greatly blessed. It just so happens that 45 years ago today I was ordained. My sister Rita, who is also one of my most avid fans, decided to have a memorial card printed for my anniversary with a prayer for priests on the back of the card. I put some on the radiators in case anyone would want one.HOMILY
I would never have survived as long as I did without the help of God’s Holy Spirit. Most of the time I was not even aware that God’s Spirit was helping me. It’s somewhat like that story of the footprints in the sand. Only as I look back do I see the movement of the Spirit keeping me sane through difficult times, giving me ideas when I couldn’t think of the right thing to say, encouraging me when my situation was overwhelming, giving me courage when I was afraid, helping me to pray when my spiritual life seemed to go dry, giving me peace when I lacked it. No wonder Jesus calls the Spirit the “Paraclete,” a word which is hard to translate but which means something like: “advocate, mediator, helper, intercessor or comforter.”
Many of us probably remember from catechism class naming the fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit we hear about in the letter to the Galatians (second reading on Pentecost). They tend to be personal qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, (kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol). The gifts of the Spirit include some personal talents but they tend to be more oriented toward building up the community of believers such as the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord, as well as the gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirit, speaking or praying in tongues, interpretation of tongues, teaching, pastoring, and a whole lot of other ways to help us in our ministry to one another. In speaking of the gifts, we cannot forget the greatest of the Spirit’s gifts which we often hear about at a wedding. St. Paul tells us the greatest of all the Spirit’s gifts is love. St. Augustine, in trying to help us to know for sure whether the Spirit dwells in us, said: “Ask your inner self, if you are full of charity, you have the Spirit of God.” (
I Believe in the Holy Spirit, vol. 2, pg 82)It’s easy to focus on the activity of the Spirit in our personal lives as the Spirit comes to us through prayer and through the sacraments. But as we celebrate Pentecost, we cannot forget on that occasion the Spirit was given to the Church to guide and direct it and to help it to grow. The Spirit came to the Apostles (and perhaps the other 120 members of the early community of believers) not just for their personal enrichment, but to send them out to all people to proclaim God’s love shown to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It remains our task as Church today, as a community of believers to proclaim God’s love. We do this as we gather here in faith right now, but we must also share that love and mystery with others to the extent that we are able.
Jesus encouraged us in St. Luke’s gospel to pray for the Spirit when he said: “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy spirit to those who ask him?” (Lk. 11:11-12) Amen.
The Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Trinity Sunday
June 7, 2009
– (Deut 4:32-34, 39-40; Rom 8:14-17; Mt 28:16-20) Since history began, humans have honored many gods of many different types (a practice we call polytheism). Only one group of people, the Hebrews, beginning with Abraham, were limited to the worship of one God (a practice we call monotheism). It’s only in modern times that people have called into question the existence of God (a practice we call agnosticism or atheism). I am only aware of one exception to the practice of polytheism among all nations and that was a short period in Egypt when the Pharaoh Akhenaten, the father of the famous King Tut, permitted only the worship of the sun god, Aten. This short period of monotheism in Egypt disappeared shortly after Akhenaten’s death and his famous son returned things to normal: the veneration of many gods. By the way, Akhenaten lived about 500 years after Abraham, so Akhenaten did not invent monotheism. I have a little story about Abraham that’s not in the bible. It’s found in Jewish and Islamic literature. When Abraham was a little boy he lived with his parents in Ur (an area in southern Iraq). Abraham’s father made statues of the gods people worshipped then – that was the way he made his living and there were lots of gods (over 700 of them) so he must have been kept busy. One day Abraham’s father had to go on a business trip and he left Abraham in charge of the shop. Abraham felt disgusted with all those statues of gods and goddesses and broke them all – except for one he left standing in the corner. When his father came home he scolded Abraham for what he had done and little Abraham denied doing it. He pointed to the god standing in the corner and said “He did it.” (Kind of a foreshadowing of Abraham’s loyalty to one God.) The Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Romans, and the Greeks worshipped many gods. The names of some of the Roman gods are still familiar: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto. Israel was unique among all the nations in its worship of one God, even though at times they allowed themselves to be seduced by the decadent worship of their pagan neighbors. In today’s first reading we hear Moses giving some last minute instructions to God’s people before they enter the Promised Land. He tells them there is no other God than the Lord (Yahweh) and that only by being faithful to their God will they prosper. It’s still good advice for today’s world where polytheism and paganism have been replaced by atheism, hedonism and materialism.INTRODUCTION
HOMILY
– Don Auberger told me last evening thathis little niece in the first grade came home after school one day and told her mother she didn’t understand the Trinity. They were studying it in school and were going to have a test and she couldn’t figure it out. Mother tried to talk to her about faith but she wasn’t convinced. She said, “I’m going to look it up on the Internet.” I know there’s a lot on the Internet, but if someone finds the Trinity explained, would they let me know.We’re dealing with a mystery, a mystery no one can fully understand (at least not in this life – maybe in the next) because it’s a mystery of who God is and God is too great for our small minds to fully comprehend. Yet, this is a mystery we cannot casually ignore because it is one of the foundational truths of our faith. Our understanding of Jesus as God’s Son and our understanding of the Holy Spirit would be seriously flawed without our belief in the Trinity. If there are still mysteries in our universe, we shouldn’t be surprised that God who is greater than all his creations would be mysterious to us. Yet, God wants us to know him and so God continues to reveal God’s self to us. The Hebrew people learned from God that there were not many gods but only one, even though all the nations around them for centuries believed differently. When Jesus came, God taught us more about who God is – a lot more.
God revealed his Son whose name was Jesus: a holy man, a great teacher and powerful worker of miracles but most of all one who was brutally executed and rose to life three days later. After his resurrection, Jesus was immediately venerated as Lord and God by his followers. This put the early Christians in a bad place with the Jews, because they were seen by the Jews as polytheists and it put the early Christians in a bad place with the pagans, because the Christians would not worship pagan gods. There were serious struggles among the Christians themselves as to how to explain and verbalize their faith that God is one but Jesus is God and the Father is God (and the Holy Spirit fit in this somehow as well). It would be three hundred years before the language was developed and the concepts clarified that the Church could say Jesus is equal to the Father in every respect and yet distinct from the Father. We profess each week the Creed that formulates this faith: that Jesus is the “only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made.” When one takes into account all that was said about Jesus in the Scriptures, no other description of Jesus could logically be accepted or believed. Yet many people were put to death – by Jews, by pagans and by fellow Christians over this belief.
Because it took a little longer to describe how the Spirit fit into this picture, I didn’t say much about the Holy Spirit yet. Christians still argue over the Holy Spirit. We, Roman Catholics, claim the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son whereas the Greek Church/the Orthodox Church, which is separated from the Holy Father, claims that the Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Son. Some theologians see this issue as the main obstacle to union between the Eastern and Western Churches.
If anything, the mystery of the Trinity communicates that God is a family – a family so closely united that although they are three persons, they are one God. Oneness is not only an important characteristic of God, but God wants us to share that oneness with him and one another (it’s what he prayed for with such passion at the Last Supper) and yet we have over 400 different groups who call themselves followers of Christ who can’t get along with one another.
Today’s mystery is just a peek into who God is, a peek that should inspire us to function more like a family - not a divided family but a united one. This peek into the mystery of God shows us another aspect of this characteristic of unity: God is not sitting alone, God is not needy for a few friends to talk with or to enjoy; the three persons are in such perfect oneness with each other that they are overflowing with love. It is in their overflowing love that God wants us to be part of God’s community of love, part of God’s family; and here we touch another deep-down mystery: Why would God love us so much to let us share God’s life and want to make us part of God’s family? In today’s celebration of the Eucharist, perhaps we’ll understand or experience God’s love more fully. Amen.
From the Lectionary
Pentecost Sequence
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine!You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul's most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;In our Labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!Where you are not, man has naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill!Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away;Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sev'nfold gift descend;Give them virtue's sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.
May 30, 2012
R. Bright and shiny —
Always doing our best
Where we will to do God's will
with all our heart —
Will with zeal —
Filled with the Holy Spirit
A bell isn't a bell if you don't
ring it —
Ring out the Good News with
zeal —
determination
will
Tell Jerry to ring the bell
again —
Pray with faith —
Hope in your heart —
Work hard to do our best —
Look at how Jerry worked
to become all he could
be —
Pray —
God wants us to see a new
bright world —
Open our eyes —
Be united —
Don't close down
Don't close in on ourselves!
Sing: We gather to ask the Lord's
blessings —
Love from the heart —
Unity —
Being forced out of
necessity to work
together —
Get rid of expectations that
put us on a pity pot
if they don't happen —
Don't try to make others
react in anger for
control —
Act as God wills, don't
manipulate and play games
Love is giving for the good
of the other —
Love is an act of the will —
We are given so much — not to
be thankful to God
for our gifts is being
ungrateful —
We must learn to forgive
each other —
We are not to think we
can hurt others for our
own control —
Song: Give Me Your Heart oh Jesus
Give Me a Heart like Yours
If we want people to
love us — we should
be loving —
Be Kind —
Be like Jesus —
What would Jesus do?
Smile because we are to
be beautiful to show
the Jesus inside —
love and light —
We know in the month of the
Sacred Heart we are to honor
our beloved Sacred Heart —
Think of His Heart of Love —
Do good as
God wants —
Give and love!!
Mothers give so much —
It is good to be grateful —
We want to pray for
knowing God's will —
Not just plan our
days, our future
without God —
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth. It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. Love never comes to an end.
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In these trying times in the United States preceding the election, Jesus has asked us to circulate the Priestly Writing, Fr. Joe's homily book focusing on the Word and the Eucharist with the Shepherds of Christ prayers in the back of the book. The only thing that will help to renew the Church and the world is following the commandments and the Father's Plan. Please help us send this book to the United States priests.
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Mass Book
A Journey Into the Heart of Jesus - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 12.00 plus postageMass Book, by Rita Ring: Many of the entries in the Priestly Newsletter Volume II from a spiritual journal came from this book. These entries
are to help people to be more deeply united to God in the Mass. This book is available in English and Spanish with the Church’s Imprimatur.
$12
Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children
From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 10.00 plus postageRosary Meditations for Parents and Children, by Rita Ring, Short Meditations for both parents and children to be used when praying the
rosary. These meditations will help all to know the lives of Jesus and Mary alive in their Hearts. Available in both English and Spanish with
the Church’s Imprimatur. $10
God's Blue Book I
Teachings to Lift You Up. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00 plus postageGod's Blue Book I by Rita Ring. Open Anywhere This book will change your life. These are beautiful love letters to us from Jesus. A million books have been printed and circulated. Jesus loves us so much He wants a personal relationship with us He wants us to go to the Eucharist and be with Him before the tabernacle. $10
God's Blue Book II
The Fire of His Love. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J.
$ 10.00 plus postageGod's Blue Book II by Rita Ring. Letters from Jesus about His on fire love Jesus wants this great intimacy with us On fire love Personal love letters from Jesus about the love of His Heart A book on surrender Fr. Carter said! $10
God's Blue Book III
Love God, Love One Another. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00 plus postageGod's Blue Book III by Rita Ring. Fr. Carter's favorite book It is about loving and forgiving each other Being pure in heart A book for unity in family, community, in life!! $10
God's Blue Book 4
The Love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: Rita Ring
$ 5.00 plus postageGod's Blue Book IV by Rita Ring. This book is about the love Jesus has for Mary and Mary has for Jesus and Jesus and Mary have for us It is truly the Love of the Two Hearts. Mary appeared every day at the Holy Spirit Center Fr. Carter was there. Mary's first apparition July 5, 1994. $5
God's Blue Book 5
So Deep Is the Love of His Heart. Author: Rita Ring.
$ 5.00 plus postageGod's Blue Book V by Rita Ring. Jesus wants to be the bridegroom of our soul He is our beloved Jesus tells us about pure love how we are to be pure of heart and love God and love others. It is a must, to hear about love from Jesus Jesus is love $5
God's Blue Book 6A
He Calls Us to Action Author: Rita Ring.
$ 10.00 plus postageGod's Blue Book 6A by Rita Ring. Rosaries from Their Hearts during apparitions. Jesus and Mary appeared every day and I received rosaries from Them and They were transcribed from a tape. Also messages of love from Jesus on days of January, 1995 About Baptism writings from Fr. Carter and the Scriptures. $10
God's Blue Book 6B
He Calls Us to Action Author: Rita Ring.
$ 10.00 plus postageGod's Blue Book 6B by Rita Ring. Jesus and Mary appeared every day in February, 1995 So beautiful transcribed from a tape the Stations, 7 Sorrows, prayers in the Prayer Manual, the Holy Spirit Novena Book and the Song Book. Pure love loving and forgiving a book about Jesus' love, baptism, grace and Fr. Carter's Newsletter. $10
Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume I
Red Rosary Book - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00 plus postageRosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Book 1. Mary appeared in Clearwater December 17, 1996 in rainbow color and these rosaries left the printer the same day from Apparitions of Jesus and Mary transcribed from a tape. $10
Blue Rosary Book
Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume II
$ 12.00 plus postageRosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Book 2. This is a book of so many rosaries - transcribed from a tape. So many beautiful rosaries. pages $12
Short Rosary Meditations for the Ederly, Ill, and Homebound
From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary: Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
This book is 8 1/2" by 11" and you can open it up and sit it on your lap.
$ 10.00 plus postageShort Rosary Meditations for the Elderly, Ill and Homebound. This book is so important with pictures they can open it and lay it on their laps and pray the rosary. $10
Messages From Jesus
Given by Jesus to His Messenger Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
This book is 8 1/2" by 11" and you can open it up and sit it on your lap.$ 10.00 plus postage
Messages for the Elderly, Ill and Homebound. This is a big book of loving messages for nursing home people and homebound from Jesus and Mary Their lives are so important united to the Mass offering up their suffering, their lives for the souls of this earth. $10
Daily Messages From Heaven 1
From the Florida Apparition Site Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00 plus postageDaily Messages From Heaven Volumes 2 thru 5 (Spiral bound)
From the Florida Apparition Site Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$25.00 each plus postageDaily Messages from Heaven. First book of Daily Messages. $10
Rosary Meditations for Little People and Elderly
Short Meditations for the Rosary
$ 3.00 plus postage
Color the Lives of Jesus and Mary, Books 1 thru 5
A Coloring Book with Short Meditations on the 15 mysteries of the rosary. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 5.00 each plus postageColor the Lives of Jesus and Mary. Volumes 1 through 7. Coloring books and meditations for grade school children and others on the mysteries of the rosary - really good. $5 each.
Coloring the Lives of Jesus and Mary Books 6 and 7
Mysteries of Light
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God's Blue Book I on CD, Disk #1
God's Blue Book I, Disk #1 Read by author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
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Mysteries of Light Rosary Book
Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume I
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Mysteries of Light Rosary Book
Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume II
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Apostle's Manual
Shepherds of Christ Overview: Very carefully discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J.
$ 20.00Apostles Manual. About the Movement - the structure of the Movement All Ministries - from the time 3 months before Mary appeared in Clearwater and 3 months after. Rosaries of the 13ths, Fr. Carter's Newsletters. Messages from God the Father Reaching the priests, the Church, the schools and the world. $20
Songs From Jesus
Given by Jesus to His Messenger Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 3.00Songs from Jesus Songbook. These loving songs were given from Jesus. So beautiful Love Songs from Jesus of His love - helping us have pure and loving hearts. $3
Shepherds of Christ Holy Spirit Novena
Holy Spirit Novena by: Rita Ring
$ 1.00 plus postageHoly Spirit Novena Booklet. In four languages with the Imprimatur with 18 scripture readings for two complete novenas – this very powerful Holy Spirit Novena has prayers for prayers for Protection by the Blood of Jesus, Healing, Strength and Light, To Be One with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One with Jesus, To Dwell in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Prayer for the Holy Spirit and His Gifts, and the Word Alive in Our Hearts. All these prayers take about 10 minutes daily recited out loud. $1
Shepherds of Christ Holy Spirit Novena CD
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Holy Spirit Novena CD. Prayers and scripture readings from the Holy Spirit Novena Booklet read by Rita Ring. $10
Colorea 1 thru 5
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Para Comprender Mejor La Santa Misa
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Fr. Joe Robinson |
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Guiding Light homily series - Reflect on the Word - Cycle B The Word leaves an impression on our souls. In my thoughts and reflections are born a more tangible understanding of these eternal concepts presented in the Gospels and the readings. Anyone can read a sentence, but not anyone can absorb it's true meaning. Truth, in this day and age, is almost a matter of opinion or individual entitlement. We believe that Christ's truth is our Roman Catholic Church. We, as priests, champion it's teachings; we are ambassadors for the Pope and Christ to those faces looking at us. We are the light by which our congregation reads to reflect upon real truth and we do it hand in hand. $15 |
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Guiding Light homily series - Steadfast to the Son - Cycle A The sunflower is a great example of how we should be steadfastly guided by light. What a powerful thought that this exceptional plant is not stuck in one pose day in and day out, yet adaptable and magnetized to the sun. We feel the same about our Son. Our heads turns to face Christ as each day presents its challenges to find light. We join together like plants in a field and soak up the Son through the pulpit. We are a warm circle of strength using the wind of our breath to carry our priests' words, Christ's words, to new rich soil. $15 | ||
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Guiding Light - Feed My Soul - Cycle C In a world rapidly advancing and encouraging personal gain, we are faced with modern problems. There is a challenge to find time in our busy schedules for Sunday Mass or a family meal. We are able to research, shop, bank and even work without hearing one human voice. It is no wonder that we may often feel disconnected and famished at our week's end. In Fr. Joe's third book of homilies from Cycle C, we are reminded of the charity that Christ intended us to show each other. We have a calling to turn the other cheek and be the Good Samaritan to others. We are rewarded with the Father's kingdom and love when we are not worthy. We are not left alone or hungry. $15 |
Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word - Cycle B At times we may feel that our path to Christ is a bit "out of focus". Like the disciples in the Book of Mark, this ordinary life clouds our vision of Christ's Divinity. We may doubt the practicality or possibility of applying His teachings and example to our modern life. Cycle B's homilies are a "guiding light" to help us realize Jesus' Messianic greatness and His promise of better things to come. $15 |
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Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts. - Cycle A (partial) Homilies by the Reverend Joe Robinson given at St. Boniface Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a tremendous honor Fr. Joe has allowed us to share these great gifts with you – for greater holiness and knowing more and more about God. $10 |
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Fr. Edward J. Carter |
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Light, Happiness, & Peace
Journeying Through Traditional Catholic Spirituality Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini
$ 10.00 plus postageThis book Light, Happiness and Peace is a journey into the spiritual life an awakening of deeper life IN HIM. Here are some of the comments we received from bishops and cardinals about the book. Cardinal – Pontifical Council for Culture – Vatican City “I am sure that this book, Light, Happiness and Peace through a discussion on traditional Catholic Spirituality will contribute in bringing back prayer into the mainstream of life.” $10
In Imitation of Two Hearts
Prayers for Consolation, Renewal and Peace in Times of Suffering Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini
$ 10.00 plus postageIn Imitation of Two Hearts - Prayers for Consolation, Renewal and Peace in Times of Suffering Fr. John J. Pasquini leads a suffering soul to the gentle Hearts of Jesus and Mary. In these most loving Hearts - the prayers by Fr. John Pasquini - help the person suffering to know more deeply the pascal mystery of death/resurrection. President of the Pontifical Council for Health $10
Authenticity
Authenticity - Prayers and Meditations Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini
$ 10.00 plus postageAuthenticity, the Yellow Book of prayers by Fr. John Pasquini, can lead the soul into deeper intimacy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, can lead to greater love of Mary which leads to the unitive life and greater holiness. The book of prayers Authenticity by Fr. John J. Pasquini is to help one grow ever deeper in the Unitive life. Apostolic Nuncio – Archbishop – Philippines “With Authenticity, much is gained in prayer, and much is accomplished through prayer. More especially if prayer is directed in behalf of the Church.” $10
Medicine of Immortality
Prayers and Meditations for Mass and Eucharistic Adoration Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini
$ 10.00 plus postage“In Medicine of Immortality, Father John Pasquini offers his readers the richness of Catholic devotional prayer, the wisdom of the Fathers and, most of all, the fruits of his own prayer and meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. I recommend this book to all who wish to grow in their love for the Lord, who sustains the life of His Church through the precious gift of His Body and Blood.” Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago $10
Ecce Fides
Pillar of Truth - Dedicated to defending Catholic beliefs through reason, Scripture, and the life of the Holy Spirit Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini
$ 10.00 plus postageEcce Fides is a work dedicated to defending Catholic beliefs through reason, Scripture, and the life of the Holy Spirit. "It is important that we (as people of God) return to the source of life, our faith, which is usefully exposed in this volume, and take it out to our contemporaries, evangelizing them and their cultures and inculturating the Gospel." Cardinal – Pontifical Council for Culture – Vatican City $10
Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters
Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini
$ 35.00 plus postageShepherds of Christ, a book of Spirituality Newsletters, is a compilation of the first nine newsletters from Fr. John J. Pasquini begining in August 2006. The Newsletter has been circulated to the priests and hierarchy spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart, promoting love for the Eucharist, greater love for the Church, the Priesthood, Mary and the Holy Spirit, the Mass, Prayer, and greater intimate relationship with God. $35
Authenticity Ocean DVD
The Authenticity Prayer Book is read with the Ocean as a backdrop.
$ 10.00 plus postageDVD - Prayers from the Authenticity Book read by Rita Ring on the ocean it is beautiful. 410
Nursing Home Mass DVD
A special mass by Fr. John J. Pasquini for those in nursing homes or homebound.
$ 10.00 plus postageDVD - A beautiful Mass was done by Fr. John J. Pasquini for Nursing homes and assisted living. It was done at St. Joseph's magnificent chapel St. Joseph's assisted living in Jupiter, Florida. It last about 33 minutes. We call it the golden Nursing Home Mass from St. Joseph's. $10
Consolation DVD
Give this DVD as a sympathy present.
$ 10.00 plus postageConsolation by Fr. John J. Pasquini upon the passing of a loved one. Fr. Pasquini has done a beautiful gift of his most wonderful homily given when someone dear has died. It can be given as a tremendous gift. $10
Divine Mercy Chaplet CD
Give this DVD as a gift.
$ 10.00 plus postageDivine Mercy Chaplet CD. Prayed by Fr. John J. Pasquini $10
Statues/Religious Items
Statues, Crucifixes, and Religious Artwork
These items are very special additions to your home or place of worship.
Special 27" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
27" Statue with crown
$ 450.00 plus shipping
Special 18" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
$ 250.00 plus shipping
Special 15" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
White gown with gold trim around mantel
$ 200.00 plus shipping
Special 12" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
White gown with gold trim around mantel
$ 160.00 plus shipping
Special 18" Our Lady of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
Blue and Pink gown with a rosary over her hand.
$ 250.00 plus shipping
Special 11" Our Lady of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
Blue and Pink gown.
$ 150.00 plus shipping
Crucifix by Felix - Hand Carved
Crucifix with incredible detail!
$ 750.00 plus shipping
Imitation of Two Hearts
Giclee Art Print on Canvas
$ 150.00 plus shipping
Lucia's Vision
Giclee Art Print on Canvas by Harold Kellner
$ 150.00 plus shipping
Mary's Image 12 x 16
Giclee Art Print on Canvas of Mary's image with a sliver of glass and a little bottle of Jesus and Mary water. The glass will be fixed behind the back of the picture.
$ 200.00 plus shipping
Blue Crystal Rosary
Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping
8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping
Red Crystal Rosary
Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping
8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping
Clear Crystal Rosary
Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping
8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping
Mug
Mug with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
$ 15.00 plus shipping
Call Rosie
1-888-211-3041
or
1-727-725-9312
Statues
OL-Guadalupe
w/glass - 28
OL-Grace
w/glass - 24OL-Mt. Carmel
w/glass - 24
OL-Lourdes
w/glass - 24
IH-Mary
w/glass - 24
IH-Ivory
w/glass - 24
SH-Jesus
w/glass - 24SH-Blessing
w/glass - 24
Sorrow M
w/glass - 24
Inf.-Prague
w/glass - 24
OL-Lourdes
w/glass - 18
OL-Mt. Carmel
w/glass - 18I Heart
w/glass - 18
I Heart - Ivory
w/glass - 18
OL-Grace
w/glass - 18
SH-Jesus
w/glass - 18OL-Guadalupe
w/glass - 12
PV-Fatima
w/glass - 27
PV-Fatima
w/glass - 18
PV-Fatima
w/glass - 15
OL-Fatima
w/glass - 18
PV-Fatima
w/glass - 12
OL-Fatima
w/glass - 11
St. Padre Pio
St. Joseph
St. Therese
St. Francis
St. Anthony
St. Claire
Limpias
St. Jude
Divine Mercy
Holy Family
Angel
St. Philomena
Pieta - Marble
Pieta - Color
Holy Family 12
St. Anthony - 18
St. Francis - 18
St. Joseph - 18
St. Therese - 18
St. Rita - 18
St. Clare - 12
St. Rita - 12
St. Padre Pio - 12
Divine Mercy - 12
St. Michael - 11
Limpias - 8
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P. O. Box 627
China, IN 47250
Toll free - 1-888-211-3041
Local - 1-812-273-8405
fax - 1-812-273-3182
web: www.sofc.org
e-mail: info@sofc.org
Size
Price
Quantity
Holy Family
24"
$180
Limpias
24"
$125
St. Anthony
24"
$125
St. Claire
24"
$125
St. Francis
24"
$125
St. Joseph
24"
$125
St. Jude
24"
$125
St. Padre Pio
24"
$125
St. Therese
24"
$125
Divine Mercy 22" $125
Angel 22" $100
St. Philomena 20" $100
St. Philomena 16" $65
St. Joseph 18" $65
St. Francis 18" $65
St. Anthony 18" $65
St. Rita 18" $65
St. Therese 18" $65
Pieta - Color 15"
$125
Pieta - Marble 15"
$125
Holy Family 12" $75
St. Padre Pio - standing 12" $100
St. Padre Pio - sitting 9" $100
St. Michael 11" $40
St. Rita 12" $40
Divine Mercy
12" $50
St. Claire 12" $40
Pieta - Color 8"
$75
Pieta - Marble 8"
$75
Limpias 8" $25
Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass 28" $500
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass 24" $500
Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass
24"
$500
Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass
24"
$500
Infant of Prague w/glass
24"
$500
Our Lady of Grace w/glass
24"
$500
Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass
24"
$500
Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass 24"
$500
Sacred Heart -Blessing w/glass 24"
$500
Sorrowful Mother w/glass
24"
$500
Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass 18" $300
Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass 18" $300
Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass 18" $300
Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass 18" $300
Our Lady of Grace w/glass 18" $300
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass
18"
$300
Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass 12" $200
Fatima w/glass
11"
$150
Fatima w/glass
18"
$250
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 12"
$160
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 15"
$200
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 18"
$250
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 27" $450
Call for Shipping Price (1-888-211-3041)
Name
Sub-Total
Address
IN Tax (7%)
City
Shipping
State Zip
Donation
Telephone
Order Total
Call Rosie
1-888-211-3041
or
1-727-725-9312
Immaculate Heart and Sacred Heart Pictures Available
with & without frames - different sizes available
Copyright
© 2012 Shepherds of Christ.
Rights for
non-commercial
reproduction granted:
May be copied in its entirety, but neither re-typed nor edited.
Translations are welcome but they must be reviewed for moral and
theological accuracy by a source approved by Shepherds of Christ Ministries
before any distribution takes place. Please contact us for more information.
All scripture quotes are from the
New Jerusalem Bible, July 1990, published by Doubleday.
Revised: January 1, 2012
URL: http://www.sofc.org
Contact Information for Shepherds
of Christ
Email: info@SofC.org
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 627
China, Indiana 47250
Telephone: (toll free) 1-888-211-3041 or (812) 273-8405
FAX: (812) 273-3182
