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                Given November 2, 2010 - All Souls Day

                Abraham

                Birth

                Death 

                R. Even animals are carried by their mother —
                    babies are born in labor —

Guiding Light - Cycle A
By Joe Robinson
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1st Sunday of Lent

February 10, 2008

INTRODUCTION: Today’s first reading tells us the story of the creation of our first parents, their temptation and their fall from grace. This does not pretend to be a documentary of what happened one or two million years earlier. It is more like a parable that attempts to understand the problem of evil. God created the human race to be happy and to share in his grace and friendship. This is indicated by the Garden of Eden. This story of Adam and Eve tells us the source of evil is our decision to give in to temptation, to not trust, to make our own rules, to use the free will which God gave us to say “no” to God. The story shows us that we bring suffering upon ourselves as a result. Pau, in the second reading, reflects on this sinful tendency in all of us. But his emphasis is on the good news that Christ can save us from sin.

HOMILY: A teacher asked her little children in religion class to draw a picture of their favorite bible story. One small boy drew the picture of an elderly gentleman, elegantly dressed, driving a big convertible. In the back of the car were two people, hardly dressed at all. The teacher thought it was an interesting picture and asked what it meant. The young artist was surprised the teacher had to ask, but he explained that was God driving Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden.

Today’s gospel, where Jesus refuses to give in to temptation, is contrasted with the first reading where Adam and Eve did give in. We’ll never know precisely what their sin was, but it doesn’t matter. Ultimately their sin was no different than ours, a decision not to trust God when he tells us to do or not to do something. Even though Adam and Eve gave in to sin, we can’t be too condemning of them. We might not have done any better ourselves.

Temptation is always a matter of thinking we can be happier without God’s direction or help. The grace to resist temptation is always available to us, but we don’t always use it. All of us are tempted. Even Jesus himself was tempted. Did you notice how Jesus always answered the devil with a quote from scripture. It shows how knowing scripture can be a real help to resist temptation. Then again, the devil quoted scripture too, so we have to know it well.

We always begin the season of Lent with Jesus in the desert. I want to say a word or two about the desert. Jesus was sent there by the Holy Spirit right after his baptism. It was a time to reflect and pray, a time of transition from the workshop to his work of teaching and healing. We all need to go into the desert from time to time. Sometimes the Holy Spirit takes us there by denying to us for a time the joys and consolations that we would like our religion to bring us. Sometimes life itself takes us into a desert, with the loss of a loved one or a job or our health, or a feeling that we’ve lost our purpose. Our faith is really tested during such times. That’s when we wonder whether God still loves us, whether God is still with us. Lent is a kind of little desert as we are encouraged to temporarily back away from a few of life’s pleasures, pleasures that distract us from reflecting on the more serious side of life. Often I minister to people who are dying. It’s not unusual for someone to say to me: “I never thought this would happen to me.” I guess they never thought about what was ahead for all of us. Life could be over for any of us tomorrow. The important thing to know is that eternal life is ahead for us too if we remain faithful to our Lord and follow him. Jesus told us he would prepare a place for us in his Father’s home and he will never
reject anyone who comes to him. But we do have the freedom to turn away from him by not following the way he has shown us. Indeed, these are profound thoughts, but that’s what Lent is for, to think and pray about these things.

 

Genesis 12: 1-4

2 Timothy 1: 8-10

2nd Sunday of Lent

February 17, 2008 (excerpt)

INTRODUCTION: Sin is a reality of life. We heard about that last week with the story of Adam and Eve. Grace, too, is a reality of life. St. Paul tells us God wants all people to be saved, which implies he will give each person sufficient grace for salvation. God’s ways are often hidden from us, but his saving work became visible and a part of the history of the world with his call to Abraham. Abraham came from Sumer, a settlement near modern day Kuwait. He and his family migrated to Haran, a city in the northern part of Syria, near Turkey. Eventually he heard God’s call to leave his kinfolk behind and move to the land of Canaan, modern day Israel. He left behind a prosperous commercial area to settle in a land that was still relatively primitive and undeveloped. Abraham made the long and difficult journey at the tender age of 75 along with his wife, Sarah, who was 10 years younger. God was telling them, not only to pack up and move to an unknown territory, but to start a family there as well! It was a pure act of faith on the part of Abraham to follow God’s call and to believe in the blessings God kept promising him, promises we hear in today’s first reading.

HOMILY: We sang in the psalm refrain “Lord let your mercy be on us as we place our trust in you.” Trust, or faith, in God is one of the most basic elements of our relationship with him. Without trust, our relationship will go nowhere. In the stories in the Bible about Abraham we see a man who trusted God totally. Peter, James and John get a boost to their faith on Mount Tabor with Jesus when they experienced Jesus’ transfiguration.

I am sure many people here have climbed a mountain or high hill and experienced the presence and grandeur of God, maybe not as dramatic as the three apostles did in the transfiguration, but God’s presence could be felt none the less. One of the most memorable days I ever had was the day I climbed Mt. Sinai, a mountain in the southern portion of Sinai Peninsula where tradition has it that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It is part of a chain of rugged, reddish colored granite mountains that rise high into the air. Mt. Sinai itself is 7500 feet high. The view of the stark and arid mountains surrounding Mt. Sinai is spectacular.

If you’ve never climbed a real mountain, I’m sure you’ve climbed many mountains figuratively: mountains of ignorance to become educated, mountains of fear to discover new strength and courage, mountains of hurt and sickness to find healing, mountains of pride to discover we are not the center of the universe. In conquering such everyday heights, we discover the God who never leaves us. Peter, James and John on Mt. Tabor discovered the God that was hidden within Jesus who was always with them. ...

                R. Here is what Fr. Joe said Cycle C about abortion —

                As we meditate on the Mysteries of Light let us think
                    of His words regarding John the Baptist
                    and the Transfiguration from the preceding scripture —

 
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson
Guiding Light - Cycle C

Second Sunday of Lent

March 4, 2007

INTRODUCTION – (Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Phil 3:17–4:1; Luke 9:28b-36) Almost 4000 years ago, God made awesome promises to a man named Abram about how he would inherit much land, would have so many descendants they could not be counted, even how the whole world would be blessed through him. Abram had no evidence that these promises would ever be fulfilled. He asked God for some assurance that they would. So God gave Abram a special sign. It may seem complicated to us but it would have been easily understood by Abram. It was the way people made covenants or contracts in those days. The ritual of cutting an animal in half and walking between the halves was a symbolic way of saying “may the same thing happen to me as to this animal if I am unfaithful to my word.” God is often represented as fire, and in this experience only God moved in-between the two halves of the animals. This indicated that God was not asking Abram to promise anything. God asked only for Abram’s trust.

HOMILY – As our lives move along, there are disappointments but there are also hopes and promises that we look forward to. Abram (later named Abraham) looked forward to the promise of land, many descendants and numerous blessings. In an ecstatic experience God assured him his hopes would be fulfilled.

Jesus had several times warned his apostles that he would suffer and die. Now he gave three of them a special experience to help them know what was ahead, that his death would lead to glory. It was a glory so wonderful that they didn’t want it to stop. They wanted to set up tents on the mountain, not for themselves but for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, and they wanted to stay there indefinitely. But it wasn’t to be. They still had to go through challenging and difficult times before they came to the glory they had seen. Matthew and Mark leave us in the dark regarding what Jesus was talking about with Moses and Elijah, but Luke tells us they were talking about Jesus’ departure from this world by his death in Jerusalem. That departure is translated here by the word “exodus.” Jesus had to leave this world to enter into the glory that was ahead. Luke has thus allowed us to see there is a definite connection between the transfiguration and Jesus’ passion. Perhaps the experience of the transfiguration was meant to give strength and hope to Peter, James, and John, to help them survive Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Perhaps it was a gift from God the Father to Jesus to help bolster his commitment to be faithful to his mission. Whatever it was, it was a promise of future glory and an assurance that God would not let down those who trusted in him.

When Peter wanted to put up three tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, it is always understood that he was enjoying this ecstatic experience and didn’t want it to end, and this is true. But I wonder whether Peter, in his way of thinking, was making Jesus equal to Moses and Elijah. He said: “Let us make three tents,” as if Jesus were a great leader on a par with Moses and Elijah. God the Father’s words: “This is my chosen Son” let the apostles know that Moses and Elijah were great men and great prophets, but Jesus is God’s Son and no one could ever be on the same level with him.

If the transfiguration is a promise of future glory for Jesus and the Apostles, St. Paul gives us a promise of future glory for us when he tells us today “our citizenship is in heaven.” We are only tourists in this world and it’s not our true home. We must always have our bags packed because we never know when we will be called to move on. And we will be called. Paul tells us God “will change our lowly bodies to conform with his glorified body.” We will be transfigured also. Lent helps us remember to be ready to move on and to make any changes in our lives we need to make, so we will be ready to meet our God in eternal glory.

Mass is always an assurance and a promise of what’s ahead, especially in Communion. The consecrated bread and wine are Jesus’ body and blood. We are reminded of his death for us. We are also assured that he hasn’t left us orphans, but he is still with us and in Communion he wants us to be more closely united with himself. Someday we will enjoy perfect union when we will not have to experience him through signs and sacraments. We will know him directly and intimately. When we come to that stage, like the three apostles at the transfiguration, we won’t ever want to leave. Unlike the apostles, we won’t have to.

Fr. Joe Robinson

Genesis 18: 1-10

HOMILY: A young minister was asked to say prayers at a burial. He was told it was a homeless person and they were being laid to rest in a little country cemetery in which no one else had yet been buried. He got lost on the way there. By the time he arrived, he saw the backhoe, there were three or four workers eating lunch and the hole was half filled, but there was no funeral director in sight. He knew he was really late and he was totally embarrassed. He apologized profusely to the workers, stepped up to the graveside and started to pray. The workers joined in with Alleluia’s and Amen’s and Praise the Lord. The young minister preached enthusiastically for quite a while from several scripture passages. He closed his prayer book and went back to his car. As he neared his car he heard one of the workers say: “I ain’t never seen anything like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 20 years.” ...

 

Window at St. Boniface

Guiding Light - Cycle B
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson

2nd Sunday of Lent

Guiding Light - Cycle B
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson

13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 2, 2006 

HOMILY – I love the Irish story of Fr. Mc Kenzie who was called out late one night to go on a sick call.  On his way he had to pass the local pub and as he looked in the window he saw some of his parishioners still sitting at the bar, drinking pretty heavily.  He felt it was his obligation to chastise them about being out so late.  He walked in the door and called out to the first one: “Sullivan, do you want to go to heaven?”  Sullivan answered “yes, Father.”  So Father said “well, get off that bar stool and get over here.”  And Sullivan obediently came to where Father told him.  Then he called to the next one: “Kelly, do you want to go to heaven?”  Kelly answered, “yes, Father.”  And Father Mc Kenzie said “Well, you get over here too.”  And Kelly came.  Then Father said to Murphy: “Murphy, do you want to go to heaven?”  “Indeed I do Father.”  Father said, “Well, then get away from that bar and come over here.”  Murphy said “No, I’m not going to do that!”  Father said: “Murphy, don’t you want to go to heaven when you die.”  Murphy said, “oh, yes, Father, when I die, but I thought you were getting ready to go right now.” 

We all want to go to heaven some day, but none of us are in a hurry to get there.  But indeed, some day we will die.  There was a man who was a workaholic.  And he paid a high price for his fanatic dedication to his job.  He got to the point where his relationship with his family was suffering where he was nervous and irritable, had high blood pressure, couldn’t sleep and was in general falling apart.  He went to see the doctor along with his wife.  The doctor told him that he was physically exhausted and he had to get some rest or he wouldn’t survive.  He prescribed six months away from work and total rest at home.  The doctor then wanted to talk with the man’s wife, alone.  He told her that her husband was critically ill and his recovery depended on her.  She had to see that he got all the rest he could, not to argue with him, wait on him as much as possible and make life as peaceful and pleasant as she could.  If she didn’t her husband was going to die.  On the way home the husband asked his wife “What did the doctor have to tell you?”  She answered him, “The doctor said you were going to die.” 

So are we all, but hopefully not in the near future.  We may make jokes about death, but we can’t take it lightly.  Our eternal happiness depends on whether we are ready to meet our God when the time comes.  So as unpleasant a thought as it may be, we have to always keep it in mind so we are prepared for it when it comes.  God didn’t create us to live in this world forever.  He created us to live with him forever in eternal life.  Our readings today speak of these profound truths.  Our first reading today tells us God did not make death.  God formed us to be imperishable, in God’s own image and likeness, but it was though the devil that death came into this world. This is obviously a theological reflection on the first few chapters of Genesis.  

Jesus, in today’s gospel, (Mk. 5, 21-43), shows too that he has power of life and death and that his mission was to bring life to us.  The life he gave to the little girl was a dramatic and visible sign of what he wishes to give us in an invisible realm, for the little girl would eventually grow up and die a natural death, but the life he wishes for us is eternal.  There is a quote from John’s gospel which I love where Jesus says this explicitly: “I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly (i.e. to an extent that is overflowing).”  (Jn. 10, 10)  We don’t know what that might be like, but we have a sense of it in Jesus’ resurrection.  Heaven will be a sharing in his risen life, which is of course a sharing in God’s own life.  Pain and suffering will no longer exist, which today’s gospel also tells us.  That life will be characterized by peace and love and joy. 

Mark is showing us in today’s gospel that the way to this life is through faith, not a dead faith which only says “I believe” but a living faith that we put into action.  Notice Jesus said to the woman he healed “daughter, your faith has saved you.”  And he said to the synagogue official, Jairus: “Do not be afraid, just have faith.”  Notice, the people who laughed at Jesus, i.e. those without faith, were put out of the house. 

Our faith leads to hope without which we are hope-less.  And there is no joy without hope.  Joy is built on hope.  And our faith also leads to love which St. Paul is talking about today, a love that reaches out to those who are not as richly blessed as we are.  Amen.

                R. The Mysteries of Light

                We meditate on the faith of Abraham —

                How Abraham was even willing to sacrifice
                    his son —

                We see in the mysteries of light —
                    God's call to us to be like Jesus —
                    in two mysteries we hear the
                    voice of the Father
                    "This is my beloved Son, in
                        whom I am well pleased"

                We are to see ourselves changing —
                    going to the Eucharist —
                    putting on Christ —
                    See ourselves at the Mass
                    being united to Jesus —
                    so one in that Holy Sacrifice —

                The Mass the Sacrifice of Calvary
                    sacramentally made present —

                We go to the mountain of the Lord —

                Grace is outpoured from the holy altar
                    through the hands of our beloved
                    priest

Fr. Joe Robinson

                R. We are so blessed —

                Oh God thank You —

                I love you so much, Rita —

                Jesus: Oh you are My love —

                    Come to Me all who are burdened and
                        I will refresh you
 

Fr. Edward Carter, S. J. - Our Founder

                Jesus: I love you so, so much —
                    I love you —

 Mysteries of Light

                (1) Baptism of the Lord
 

Matthew 3: 13-17

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

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

                (2) Marriage at Cana
 

John 2: 1-10

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

 

                (3) Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

Window from St. Joseph Church - Cincinnati, OH

John 18: 33-37

   So Pilate went back into the Praetorium and called Jesus to him and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others said it to you about me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?’ Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom does not belong here.’ Pilate said, ‘So, then you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’ 

 

                (4) The Transfiguration
 

Mark 9: 2-10

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, ‘Rabbi,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.

                (5) The Last Supper and Institution of the Eucharist
 

Fr. Mike

 

                R. Birth

                    Death

                We only have a few years on this earth —

                We must use them wisely —

Matthew 5: 1-12

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

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

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

                Babies are gifts from God —

                We are to love each other —

                We are to unite as members of the Father's
                    family — brothers and sisters —
                    God the Father created all of us —

                God is with us
                God loves us so much
                God is guiding us —

                God wants us with Him forever in
                    heaven

                We must see the vision of the Father —
                    never put ourselves above the
                    Father's will —

                God sends people to us —

                We must not be selfish, but open
                    ready to do God's work —
                    ready to receive the person
                        God sends —

                Be 'other' focused

                Serving God — promoting His
                    Kingdom —

                The devil wants us closed in
                    focused on ourselves —

                We keep on keeping on, building God's
                    Kingdom even in suffering —
                    we want God's will —
                    we want to serve God —

                This is a journey —

                If we see one's whole life we see
                    sufferings — many times when
                    people, dealing with us, were not
                    being as God wanted them to be —
                    sufferings inflected by the weakened
                    human nature

                We are to be like Jesus and Mary —

                Give our hearts to these pure and holy Hearts —

                Put pictures of Jesus and Mary in our
                    houses as models to follow

                Consecrate our hearts to Jesus and Mary —

                We want to do God's will —

                God allows us to suffer to help us
                    to die to our imperfections and
                    live more the resurrected life —

                God may allow us to suffer for His purpose —

                God is with us —

                After all these years from Adam and Eve —

                God gives us the Church, the Eucharist,
                    we are to obey God —

                Jesus is to be the King and Center of our
                    hearts and all places on the earth —
                    Our answers are in doing
                    God's will —               

Genesis 12: 17-20

But Yahweh inflicted severe plagues on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram and said, 'What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, "She is my sister," so that I took her to be my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!' And Pharaoh gave his people orders about him; they sent him on his way with his wife and all his possessions.

                R. The Pharaoh suffered a severe
                    plague because of Abram's
                    wife Sarai —

                God is the ultimate mystery —
                God is with us —

Response to God's Love
by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

Fr. Edward Carter, S. J. Our Founder

                R. Because of the plague the Pharaoh
                    sent Abram and Sarai away —

                When we see suffering and signs
                    God sends us today —

                Do we listen? —
                Do we obey the commandments? —
                Do we live by the Word? —

                Are we acting like Jesus and Mary,
                    dying to our selfish ways to
                    live more the resurrected life? —

                Are we thanking God for His gifts? —
                    the gift of life? —
                    the gift of health? —
                    the gift of each other? —
                    the sun so bright? —
                    the beautiful sky and star studded
                        night? —

                Have we lost our focus of God as
                    our Creator? —

                God wants peace among us as brothers —
                    loving —
                    preparing ourselves for the
                    beatific vision —

                We are to be one family —
                To share the gifts God gives us —

                We are all under the same sky and
                    all under the same God who
                    created us —

                We are to live here — as brothers and
                    sisters — in unity and love —
                    not competition and discord —
                    caved in and selfish — hating
                    those God called us to work with
                When God blesses us and gives us His
                    direction —
                    calling Mary, Mother of God —
                    through election God chose
                    Mary, sinless

                Today we can focus on us forgetting
                    about God

                Brother hating brother —

                Making rules opposed to God's rules —
                Rebelling against the Creator

                Inhumanity to men

                Abortion is the killing of innocent
                    babies created by God —

                Think of Sodom and Gomorrah —

                Think of the flood at the time of Noah —

                Think of the offenses against God
                    on this earth today —
                    Disobedience to the Commandments
                    Killing the babies in abortion

                Fr. Joe said from Cycle C Homilies pp. 13-14

Fr. Edward Carter, S. J. and Rita Ring
4 days before his death

                        23. FIRST PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION

                            Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God 
                        our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.

From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, 
    by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p. 11

21.                     SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

    Which have as their purpose the conquest of self
    and the regulation of one's life in such a way that
    no decision is made under the influence of any
    inordinate attachment

                R. Let go of inordinate attachments —
                old habits that block us doing God's
                    will —
                old habits we were taught in
                    dysfunctional homes —

                Live to serve our Heavenly Father
                    and to be more perfected like Him

                When we take the wrong road —
                    we get to the wrong place —

                How can you change what
                    is the wrong road to make
                    it right —

                There is one Plan —

                    The Plan of God Most High —
                        Creator of heaven and earth

                        We can use our free will
                            to do God's will or
                            to reject Him —

                We either go toward a life of
                    grace or rebellion
                    against God's will  

                R. We see the King who disobeyed Jeremiah
                    and listened to the false
                    prophet because he wanted
                    not to suffer —

                God tells us what to do —
                    suffering or not —
                    We are to obey Him —
                    It is the right way —
                    We must do the right thing
                        according to God's Plan

                (1) Right reason
                (2) Doing God's will in love

                God makes promises, but our
                    faith is waning and we
                    listen to the voice of fear
                    many times —

                Know the Word of God — our life
                    is so short here

                Melchizedck, king of Salem, came
                to Abram with bread and wine —
                many times we do not see the big vision
                of God —

Genesis 14: 22

But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, 'I swear by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth:

 

                R. God has a Plan for us and we can
                be our own worst enemy — wanting
                to punish somebody instead of enduring
                the suffering and really serving God as
                we are called by God —

                    God calls and He wants us to respond
                according to God's Plan — we can get angry
                and hold out on God because the devil
                presses on our wounded human nature
                and we give in and block the Plan
                God wants for us —

                    We even see childbirth which is
                so wonderful a gift how a child comes
                into the world — the child comes in
                pain — We can be very selfish and use
                our children for our plan in selfishness —
                God has a Plan for them and we have
                no right getting in God's way for our
                selfish jealousies — children are
                God's creation — we are to do our
                part in their upbringing as God wants
                but not think we own them for ourselves —
                they are God's creation — The Heavenly Father
                created them for His honor and glory —

                    Parents are to live their lives being
                under God —

                    Abraham was called the father of
                many nations — Sarah was to be the
                mother of many nations and she was
                thought barren — Abraham, when
                Sarah conceived Isaac, was very old.
                They had to do God's will — Be patient —
                Be faithful —

                God made a covenant with
                    Abraham
   

Genesis Chapter 17

When Abram was ninety–nine years old Yahweh appeared to him and said, ‘I am El Shaddai. Live in my presence, be perfect, and I shall grant a covenant between myself and you, and make you very numerous.’ 

    God spoke to him as follows, 'For my part, this is my covenant with you: you will become the father of many nations. And you are no longer to be called Abram; your name is to be Abraham, for I am making you father of many nations. I shall make you exceedingly fertile. I shall make you into nations, and your issue will be kings. And I shall maintain my covenant between myself and you, and your descendants after you, generation after generation, as a covenant in perpetuity, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And to you and to your descendants after you, I shall give the country where you are now immigrants, the entire land of Canaan, to own in perpetuity. And I shall be their God.'

                R. Abraham had faith —
                Abraham waited —
                Abraham did as the Lord told him —

                Sarah laughed when she was
                    told she would have a son —
                    then she denied she laughed.

                Abraham was told Ishmael too
                    would be blessed —

                Abraham talked to the Lord —

                    When God has created all these people
                and has a plan for all of us — Why
                does a person act vindictively, act jealously,
                demand selfish attention at the point God is
                trying to do something through another
                person, an instrument He has chosen?
                God's gifts given to us are so good and
                we are to serve Him and our relationship
                is that He is the giver of grace, of
                gifts — the devil works in jealousy —
                wanting attention when God is
                blessing us through another because
                we are envious and see this gift God
                gives as a threat to us —

                    Our focus is for building God's
                Kingdom for doing God's Plan —
                for not acting in envy and jealousy —
                how could we singly run the world —
                there were 12 Apostles God picked —
                11 were faithful — they were needed — ie
                John was different than Peter —
                Look at the gifts God gives us all —
                If we are envious and in competition
                we make ourselves small in heart
                and being — soon we will die —
                there is perfect love in heaven,
                not jealousy or envy — there is
                unity and harmony as God desires —
                We see the sin of Adam and Eve —
                We see the jealousy of Cain, so he
                    killed Abel —

                The future is a gift from God —
                The future is from the Plan of the Father —

                The devil tries to get people to be
                    jealous and possessive and envious
                    and prideful and controlling —

                God is the Creator of all of us —

                God wants us to be sons of Him —
                    We were created in His image
                        and likeness —

                R. The devil comes in fear and says — look
                    at this — you should be jealous,
                    you should be envious —
                    you will be left out

                When I asked God to use my hand and
                    write a book —
                    I got this message
                    18 years ago

October 5, 1992

                R. The devil wants to send people God
                    called away — so we can be
                    possessive and jealous and envious —
                    who can last — if no one is
                    left

                The devil acts in temptation —
                    like he tempted Eve in the garden

                Why do you act —
                    to do God's will

                Do you act out of jealousy,
                    possessiveness, envy, pride,
                    wanting to control —
                    wanting a "that a way boy"?

                God wants unity amongst the brothers
                    He created —

                    the devil wants division —                   
                    the devil wants isolation —
                    the devil wants to use others
                        as his instruments to force
                        the devil's rule —

                When jealousy, anger, envy rule
                    the devil is dictating the Plan —

                Those forcing their jealousy, anger
                    envy, get more and more distorted
                    vision as they give into these
                    vices and block God's Plan —

                This distance in their heart from
                    God makes them more angry
                    and miserable —
                    So then they can act vengefully
                    to cause the failure of
                    God's Plan for a happy united
                    Family —

Jesus and St. Margaret Mary

                R. Jesus gave the following Promises
                    to Margaret Mary

                R. We don't believe as we should —
                    like Abraham in the Plan
                    of God and how He wants
                    to use us to be His instruments
                    of faith in this world —

                God tests us, many times, to help
                    strengthen us like He did
                    to Abraham in telling him
                    to sacrifice his son Isaac —
                    Genesis 22: 1-19

                When Abraham was preparing
                    Isaac for his upcoming
                    mission — God tested him and
                    he did, even then, as
                    God wanted —

                Jesus did the will of His Heavenly Father.

February 23, 1997

Sacrifice

R. When I go to Mass I offer a sacrifice. God wants our all. He wants to be first in our life. He asked Abraham to sacrifice his son.

Gen. 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18:

It happened some time later that God put Abraham to the test. "Abraham, Abraham!" he called. "Here I am," he replied. God said, "Take your son, your only son, your beloved Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, where you are to offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I shall point out to you.

When they arrived at the place which God had indicated to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.

But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven. "Abraham, Abraham!" he said. "Here I am," he replied. Do not raise your hand against the boy," the angel said. "Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your own beloved son." Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

The angel of Yahweh called Abraham a second time from heaven. "I swear by my own self, Yahweh declares, that because you have done this, because you have not refused me your own beloved son, I will shower blessings on you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All nations on earth will bless themselves by your descendants, because you have obeyed my command.

The Father gave His Son for us. This is how great the Father's love is for us.

When we go to the altar many times we are suffering. We want something really bad, but we know we love God the most. What the Father asks for us is to offer that which we are so attached to as a sacrifice, united to the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. If we offer this sacrifice to Him, the Father will pour out blessings that will be divine blessings, greater than anything we could have here on earth.

The Mass is the perfect sacrifice we offer to the Father, in which God pours out His blessings and we are one with Him and with all others in a profound expression of love. God shares His divine love with us and we partake in an intense way in His divine loving capacity. In order to become one in Him and to feel His love like this, we must surrender ourselves and be open.

He told Abraham to offer his son. God gave him his son back. He wanted Abraham to love God above all things and people.

Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to the Father. This is the most pleasing sacrifice to the Father. If He gave His Son Who died for love of us, will He deny us when we unite our petitions with Jesus and offer these at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?

He took them to the highest mountain and He was transfigured before them in the greatest light.

Mark 9:2-10:

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, "Rabbi," he said, "it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him." Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what 'rising from the dead' could mean.

We go to the altar of sacrifice. The mountain to come, in which so many graces will flow, is the altar of sacrifice where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered through the hands of consecrated priests.

We hear the Father say, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him." He is speaking to us. He is the Word. He is speaking in these messages. He is unveiling the Scriptures and speaking to us in plain talk. This is a great gift He is giving to us.

We are transformed in the Mass. We unite with the greatest sacrifice offered in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We have the most perfect sacrifice to offer to the Father when we offer this sacrifice. He gives us great blessings. We die to ourselves, we become white.

We must unite all of our sacrifices to this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass being said all over the world. This is the greatest way to magnify all of our offerings - by uniting everything we do as an offering, a sacrifice to the Father in union with His Son.

end of excerpt

                R. Can you even imagine Abraham's
                    faithfulness to God to make
                    the journey and willing to sacrifice
                    his son

                God the Father gave His only begotten
                    Son for our sins — how can
                    we offend God, our Creator,
                    Jesus who died for us and the
                    Holy Spirit wants us to know
                    God's love —

                Oh God, I am so sorry — give us
                    the strength to obey You in a
                    world that is sinning — so we
                    are praying for this devotion to
                    the Sacred Heart as King and Center
                    of our hearts and the Immaculate
                    Heart as our heavenly Mother —

                God is faithful and God is just —

                God tests us and He gives us strength
                    to endure the tests —
                    to remain holy —
                    to obey God
                    to proceed in His Plan in love —
                    to live a virtuous life —
                    to be saturated more and more with
                        His grace

                Given November 2, 2010 - All Souls Day

                R. We see the rivalry between
                    Jacob and Esau

                Their mother's name was Rebekah

                At first Rebekah could not conceive —
                    then she prayed and
                    she had twins Esau and Jacob —

                When they were older, Isaac,
                    Jacob's father was close to death

                Jacob tricked his father to get
                    his blessing —

                The mother of Jacob liked Jacob
                    better than Esau —

                She wanted Jacob to trick the
                    father to get the blessing —

                After Jacob tricked the father
                    Esau was so mad

                It was interesting to me, how
                    Rebekah helped Jacob trick his
                    father Isaac and
                    that Rebekah's brother tricked Jacob
                    with the daughter Leah —

                It is further interesting that Leah's
                    sons were 6 of Joseph's brothers
                    who sold him to slavery —

                Jacob lied to his father —
                    he brought him the soup —
                    he gave him his hairy arm —
                    which was fake hair —

                Jacob said he was Esau

                Jacob got the blessing of his
                    father Isaac —

                Isaac blessed Jacob —

                Esau then came for the blessing
                    and Isaac said I
                    blessed you already —

                Esau told his father he blessed
                    Jacob and Isaac
                    said Jacob must remain
                    blessed —

                Jacob and Esau fought

                Jacob left or Esau would kill
                    Jacob

                Isaac sent Jacob to Laban, Rebekah's
                    brother to find a wife

                Jacob had a dream "Jacob's ladder"

                Jacob went to Laban —

                Jacob fell in love with Rachel —

                Jacob worked hard for 7 years
                    for her hand in marriage —

                Laban - tricked Jacob and substituted
                    Leah the eldest daughter and
                    made it dark for the wedding
                    night —

                Jacob was told by Laban he must
                    work another 7 years for
                    Rachel and he could have them both
                    as his wives —

                Leah's first child was Reuben,
                    then - Simeon, Levi, Judah

                Rachel did not conceive a
                    child and she was envious
                    of her sister, Leah,
                    So she asked Jacob to lie with
                    her maidservant Bilhah

                Jacob said to Rachel that God didn't
                    give her children —

                but he did as Rachel asked —
                    now Bilhah gave Jacob Dan
                    and Naphtali, then

                Leah saw she was not bearing
                    children so she gave
                    Jacob her maidservant — Zilpah

                Jacob had a son by Zilpah —
                    his name was Gad — then Zilpah
                    had a second son Asher,

                Then Leah conceived a 5th son
                    Issachar

                And a 6th son — Zebulun

                And finally a daughter Dinah —

                Then Rachel conceived Joseph and
                    finally Benjamin and Rachel
                    died

                Jacob loved Rachel the most —

                The Israelites in Egypt

Exodus 1: 1-13

                R. When God called the special people
                    in the Old Testament —
                    like Jacob, they was blessed —

                R. Jacob and Esau made up

                Jacob was a God-fearing man
                Jacob obeyed God
                Jacob was a man of peace

                Jacob was betrayed by his sons
                    in the case how they treated Joseph and
                    with the rape of Dinah

Genesis 34: 30-31

Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, 'You have done me an ill turn by bringing me into bad odour with the people of the region, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I have few men, whereas they will unite against me to defeat me and destroy me and my family.' They retorted, 'Should our sister be treated like a whore?'

                R. Jacob was called Israel

Genesis 35: 9-15

God again appeared to Jacob on his return from Paddan-Aram, and blessed him. God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob, but from now on you will be called not Jacob but Israel.' Thus he came by the name Israel. God said to him, 'I am El Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, will descend from you, and kings will issue from your loins. The country which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I now give to you; and this country I shall give to your descendants after you.' Then God went up from him. Jacob raised a monument at the spot where he had spoken to him, a standing-stone, on which he made a libation and poured oil. Jacob named the place Bethel where God had spoken to him.

                R. It was great distress
                    after the rape of
                    Dinah after the battle —

                They had to leave quickly from that
                    place

                Rachel went into labor on the
                    road to Ephrath

                Jacob had his second son
                    from Rachel - but
                    she was not good and died —

                She was at the point of death
                    she said the baby was
                    to be called Ben-Oni —
                    Jacob said Benjamin —

                Reuben further disappointed
                    Jacob by lying with
                    Bilhah, his
                    father's concubine —

                Isaac lived 180 years

                Jeremiah

                Call of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1: 4-10

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:

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

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

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

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

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

     

Jeremiah 17: 5-8

Yahweh says this,
Accursed be anyone
     who trusts in human beings,
who relies on human strength
and whose heart turns from Yahweh.
Such a person is like scrub
    in the wastelands:
when good comes, it does not affect him
since he lives in the parched places
    of the desert,
uninhabited, salt land.

‘Blessed is anyone who trusts in Yahweh,
with Yahweh to rely on.
Such a person is like a tree by the waterside
that thrusts its roots to the stream:
when the heat comes it has nothing to fear,
its foliage stays green;
untroubled in a year of drought,
it never stops bearing fruit.

Guiding Light - Cycle C
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson

6^th Sunday of Ordinary Time - February 11, 2007

INTRODUCTION: Life is full of options for people in the world today, but the Bible tells us that all our options ultimately will be reduced to two.  We either make God the center of our lives or we don’t.  Choosing to make God the center of our lives will lead to true happiness, making any other choice may satisfy us temporarily, but it will in the end leave us disappointed and unhappy.  This was crystal clear to Jeremiah the prophet who lived at the time of the Babylonian exile.  His way of expressing this truth is crystal clear too.

    \

Jeremiah 20: 7-9

Guiding Light - Cycle A
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 22, 2008

INTRODUCTION: The prophet, Jeremiah lived in Israel about 600 years before Christ. The Babylonian destruction of Israel was immanent. The Babylonians came from modern day Iraq. Their capital, Babylon, was located just 100 miles south of Baghdad. Jeremiah was warning God’s people that they could avoid the destruction that was on its way if they started living according to God’s laws (most of which were being flagrantly ignored or violated. The people didn’t like the message, so they decided to kill Jeremiah. His words in today’s first reading reflect the pain and misery he experienced for being faithful to his mission. We should not be shocked when we hear him pray that God take vengeance on his persecutors. After all, he was human and not as perfect as Jesus who was able to pray for those who crucified him.

Our first reading leads into the gospel. As we heard last Sunday, Jesus had just chosen his twelve apostles. In today’s gospel he prepares to send them out as missionaries. He is warning them their message will not always be well received, they may even suffer and die for it, but they must preach with courage and not be afraid of what might happen to them if they meet rejection

Jeremiah 23: 1-6

‘Disaster for the shepherds who lose and scatter the sheep of my pasture, Yahweh declares. This, therefore, is what Yahweh, God of Israel, says about the shepherds who shepherd my people, “You have scattered my flock, you have driven them away and have not taken care of them. Right, I shall take care of you for your misdeeds, Yahweh declares! But the remnant of my flock I myself shall gather from all the countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; they will be fruitful and increase in numbers. For them I shall raise up shepherds to shepherd them and pasture them. No fear, no terror for them any more; not one shall be lost, Yahweh declares! 

    Look, the days are coming, 
        Yahweh declares, 
    when I shall raise an upright Branch 
        for David; 
    he will reign as king and be wise, 
    doing what is just and upright 
        in the country. 
    In his days Judah will triumph 
    and Israel live in safety. 
    And this is the name he will be called, 
    ‘Yahweh–is–our–Saving–Justice.’ ”

Guiding Light - Cycle B
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson

Jeremiah 31: 1-9

30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 29, 2006 

INTRODUCTION: (Jeremiah 31, 7-9; Hebrews 5, 1-6; Mark 10, 46-52) The Jews have had numerous periods of great suffering throughout history.  One of those difficult periods was during the Babylonian exile.  The prophet who speaks to us in today’s first reading, Jeremiah, lived through it all.  Before the exile he had the unpopular task of telling God's people what hey needed to do in order to avoid disaster – unpopular because he had to tell them they had to start obeying God's laws.  Instead of heeding his counsel the people tried to kill Jeremiah.  When the Babylonians descended upon Judah, they took many people captive as slaves to Babylon.  Jeremiah could have said “I told you so.”  But he didn’t.  Instead he offered God's people hope.  We hear him in today’s first reading telling a conquered people: “shout for joy for Jacob” for God would bring his people back home.  Even the blind and the lame would not be left behind.  The passage prepares us for the gospel where Jesus heals a blind man. 

Guiding Light - Cycle C
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson

1st Sunday of Advent - December 3, 2006

Jeremiah 38: 4-6

Guiding Light - Cycle C
Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson

Jeremiah 52: 12-14

In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month — it was in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon — Nebuzaradan commander of the guard, a member of the king of Babylon's staff, entered Jerusalem. He burnt down the Temple of Yahweh, the royal palace and all the houses in Jerusalem. The Chaldaean troops who accompanied the commander of the guard demolished all the walls surrounding Jerusalem.

                R. I asked God if He would write
                    a book would He use my
                    hand

                He gave me the following
                    message

October 5, 1992

Book Store

Rita Ring

Books written by the cofounder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries

	Mass Book A Journey Into the Heart of Jesus - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur $ 12.00 plus postage   Mass 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 postage   Rosary 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 postage God'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 postage God'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 postage God'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 postage God'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 postage God'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 postage God'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 postage God'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 postage Rosaries 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 postage Rosaries 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 postage Short 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 postage Daily 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 postage Daily 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 postage Color 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   $ 5.00 each plus postage   Color the Lives of Jesus and Mary. Volumes 6 through 7. Coloring books and meditations for grade school children and others on the mysteries of the rosary - really good. $5 each.
	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.   $ 10.00 plus postage

	Mysteries of Light Rosary Book   Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume I   $ 5.00  plus postage
	Mysteries of Light Rosary Book   Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume II   $ 5.00  plus postage

	Apostle's Manual   Shepherds of Christ Overview: Very carefully discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J.   $ 20.00    Apostles 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.   $ 3.00   Songs 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 postage  Holy 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   Holy Spirit Novena Read by: Rita Ring   $ 10.00  plus postage   Holy Spirit Novena CD. Prayers and scripture readings from the Holy Spirit Novena Booklet read by Rita Ring. $10
	Colorea 1 thru 5   las vidas de Jesús y María (recibido el Imprimátur)   $ 5.00 each plus postage
	Para Comprender Mejor La Santa Misa   Una Jornada Hacia el Corazón de Jesús   $ 10.00

Meditaciones del Rosario   para Pequenos y Ancianos   $ 10.00

 

Fr. Joe Robinson

Inspiring Homilist & Author Fr. Joseph Robinson has dedicated his life to serving Christ and the Church for over 40 years.

		Guiding Light - Steadfast to the Son Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle A of the Liturgical Year $ 10.00 plus postage 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
		Guiding Light - Feed My Soul Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle C of the Liturgical Year $ 10.00 plus postage
		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 Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle B of the Liturgical Year $ 10.00 plus postage 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

Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts Inspiring Homilies covering partial year of Cycle A by Fr. Joe Robinson $ 5.00 plus postage 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

Fr. Edward J. Carter

Books written by the founder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries

Response to God's Love ...God Himself is the Ultimate Mystery $ 10.00  plus postage Response to God’s Love by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. In this book Fr. Carter speaks of God as the ultimate mystery. We can meditate on the interior life of the Trinity. Fr. Carter tells us about our uniqueness in the Father's Plan for us, how the individual Christian, the Church and the world are in the state of becoming. Imprimatur. $10 Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 1 Selected Writings on Spirituality—for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur $ 10.00  plus postage Shepherds of Christ - Selected Writings on Spirituality for all People as Published in Shepherds of Christ Newsletter for Priests. Contains 12 issues of the newsletter from July/August 1994 to May/June 1996. $15 Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 2 Selected Writings on Spirituality — for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur $ 12.00  plus postage Shepherds of Christ - Volume 2: by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. Contains issues 13-29 of the newsletter (September/October 1996 - Issue 5, 1999) $15 Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 3 Selected Writings on Spirituality — for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 10.00  plus postage Shepherds of Christ - Volume 3 by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. Contains Newsletter Issues 1 through 4 of 2000 including Fr. Carter’s tremendous Overview of the Spiritual Life $10 Tell My People Messages from Jesus and Mary Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimi Potest   $ 10.00  plus postage Tell My People. Messages from Jesus and Mary (As given to Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.) — One of Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.'s Synopsis of the Spiritual Life — From Jesus to Fr. Carter "On Holy Saturday, 1994, Jesus told me that on the following day, Easter, I would also begin to receive messages for others. Our Lord also told me that some of these were eventually to be published in a book—and here is that book." $10 Spirituality Handbook Shepherds of Christ Associates Spirituality Handbook - A Way of Spiritual Life Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimi Potest $ 3.00  plus postage Spirituality Handbook. Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. did 3 synopsis of the spiritual life. The Spirituality Handbook, the Priestly Newsletter 20he Tell My People book. The way of spiritual life proposed to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates is centered in consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. All aspects of the spiritual life discussed below should be viewed as means to help members develop their lives in consecration to Christ, the Sacred Heart, and to Mary, the Immaculate Heart. $3 The Spirituality of Fatima Fatima: The Setting, The Message, The Spirituality of Consecration $ 5.00  plus postage The Spirituality of Fatima by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. The Fatima apparitions and messages received official Church approval in 1930. In giving her official approval to the Fatima event, the Church tells us that what took place at Fatima involving the three young visionaries is worthy of our belief. $5     Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual   Shepherds of Christ Associates Prayers   Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.   $ .50  plus postage Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual. The Shepherds of Christ has prayer chapters all over the world praying for the priests, the Church and the world. These prayers that Father Carter compiled in the summer of 1994 began this worldwide network of prayer. Currently the prayers are in eight languages with the Church’s Imprimatur. We have prayed daily for the priests, the Church, and the world since 1994. Associates are called to join prayer Chapters and help us circulate the newsletter centered on spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart and helping to renew the Church through greater holiness. Please form a Prayer Chapter & order a Prayer Manual.       Shepherds of Christ 6:20 Prayers CD Holy Spirit Novena, Associates Prayer Manual and the Rosary Led by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 10.00  plus postage Priestly Newsletter 2000 Issue 1 Audio CD - Read by Father Edward J. Carter $ 10.00  plus postage Priestly Newsletter - 2000 #1 - CD. - Christ is Our Strength - Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. read it the year he died. It is so beautiful. "This brief passage contains one of the greatest lessons of the spiritual life. As we progress along our spiritual journey, we become increasingly aware of how weak we are in our-selves, but how strong we are in Christ. To experience our weakness involves suffering. The degree and kind of suffering can vary. The suffering can include the experience of the classical dark night of the spirit as described by St. John of the Cross. One of the main purposes of the dark night is to make a person keenly aware of his or her helplessness without God." quote by Fr. Carter from the newsletter $10 Priestly Newsletter 2000 Issue 2 Audio CD - Read by Father Edward J. Carter $ 10.00  plus postage Priestly Newsletter - 2000 #2 - CD. - Suffering: A Source of Life - Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. read it the year he died. Fr. Carter knew suffering that year. His voice is so powerful as he read each Newsletter from his heart and soul. "Every man has his own share in the redemption. Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the redemption was accomplished. He is called to share in that suffering through which all human suffering has also been redeemed. In bringing about the redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the redemption. Thus each man in his suffering can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ..." quote by Fr. Carter from the newsletter $10

Fr. John J. Pasquini

Light, Happiness, & Peace Journeying Through Traditional Catholic Spirituality Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini $ 10.00 plus postage This 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 postage In 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 postage Authenticity, 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 postage Ecce 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 postage Shepherds 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 postage DVD - 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 postage DVD - 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 postage Consolation 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 postage Divine 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 $ 165.00 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 - 24	OL-Mt. Carmel w/glass - 24	OL-Lourdes w/glass - 24	IH-Mary w/glass - 24	IH-Ivory w/glass - 24
SH-Jesus w/glass - 24	SH-Blessing w/glass - 24	Sorrow M w/glass - 24	Inf.-Prague w/glass - 24	OL-Lourdes w/glass - 18	OL-Mt. Carmel w/glass - 18
I Heart w/glass - 18	I Heart - Ivory w/glass - 18	OL-Grace w/glass - 18	SH-Jesus w/glass - 18	OL-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