| Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing |
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| Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing |
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September 10,
2014|
September 11th Holy Spirit
Novena |
The Novena Rosary
Mysteries |
China Retreat
Sept. 10th - Sept. 13th
Mass everyday is at 12 noon.
Please tune in!
September 10, 2014
Today's Readings
1 Corinthians 7: 25-31
About people remaining virgin, I have no directions from the Lord, but I give my own opinion as a person who has been granted the Lord’s mercy to be faithful. Well then, because of the stress which is weighing upon us, the right thing seems to be this: it is good for people to stay as they are. If you are joined to a wife, do not seek to be released; if you are freed of a wife, do not look for a wife. However, if you do get married, that is not a sin, and it is not sinful for a virgin to enter upon marriage. But such people will have the hardships consequent on human nature, and I would like you to be without that.
What I mean, brothers, is that the time has become limited, and from now on, those who have spouses should live as though they had none; and those who mourn as though they were not mourning; those who enjoy life as though they did not enjoy it; those who have been buying property as though they had no possessions; and those who are involved with the world as though they were people not engrossed in it. Because this world as we know it is passing away.
Psalm 45: 11-12, 14-17
then the king will fall in love with your beauty;
he is your lord, bow down before him.
The daughter of Tyre will court your favour with gifts,
and the richest of peoplesin brocade, the king’s daughter is led within
to the king with the maidens of her retinue;
her companions are brought to her,they enter the king’s palace with joy and rejoicing.
Instead of your ancestors you will have sons;
you will make them rulers over the whole world.I will make your name endure from generation to generation,
so nations will sing your praise for ever and ever.
Luke 6: 20-26
Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said:
How blessed are you who are poor:
the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are hungry now:
you shall have your fill.
Blessed are you who are weeping now:
you shall laugh.‘Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look!—your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.
But alas for you who are rich:
you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have plenty to eat now:
you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who are laughing now:
you shall mourn and weep.‘Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven:
A time for giving birth,
a time for dying;
a time for planting,
a time for uprooting what has been planted.
A time for killing,
a time for healing;
a time for knocking down,
a time for building.
A time for tears,
a time for laughter;
a time for mourning,
a time for dancing.
A time for throwing stones away,
a time for gathering them;
a time for embracing,
a time to refrain from embracing.
A time for searching,
a time for losing;
a time for keeping,
a time for discarding.
A time for tearing,
a time for sewing;
a time for keeping silent,
a time for speaking.
A time for loving,
a time for hating;
a time for war,
a time for peace.
R. There is a time for everything –
Things have patterns – Fr. Joe says –
history repeats itself
When we look at the world – there has
always been wars –
We see the devastation of World War II
Over 60,000,000 people were killed in
World War II
We see that there is division and trouble
all over –
God has given us these prayers
through Fr. Carter to pray
for the world –
July 31, 1994
Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.
"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.
"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."
- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)
R. Jesus can attach so much grace
to these prayers for devotion to His
Sacred Heart.
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R. Jeremiah suffered delivering the message
from the Lord –
The King would not listen to Jeremiah's
prophesies –
Mary told us this at Fatima almost
one hundred years ago –
Excerpts from The Spirituality of Fatima
by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.
July 13, 1917
"During this same July apparition, Mary showed the three children a vision of Hell. She told them:
"To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the five first Saturdays. If my requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will scatter her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be destroyed....
"But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, Russia will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world." (13)
13. For background material on Fatima, I am particularly indebted to
Our Lady of Fatima's Peace Plan from Heaven (Rockford: TAN
Books and Publishers, Inc., 1983).
p.5.
R. Here is a second message
Fr. Carter got about
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart.
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
My dear fellow Associate Members,
Jesus is calling special apostles to join a new division of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Here is a message from Jesus given to Father Carter:
My beloved priest-companion, I am requesting that a new prayer movement be started under the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I am asking for volunteers who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as others, are to be invited to join this movement.
These apostles are to pray for the intentions I am giving you. For part of the hour they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook. They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.
I will use this new prayer movement within My Shepherds of Christ Ministries in a powerful way to help in the renewal of My Church and the world. I will give great graces to those who join this movement. The name, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, is to be given to this movement.
I am inviting My beloved Rita Ring to be coordinator for this activity.
I pour out the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.
This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:
1. For the spread of the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary culminating in the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
2. For the Pope.
3. For all bishops of the world.
4. For all priests.
5. For all sisters and brothers in the religious life.
6. For all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement, and for the spread of this movement to the world.
7. For all members of the Catholic Church.
8. For all members of the human family.
9. For all souls in purgatory.end of Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart message
R.
We can pray for the whole world
before the Blessed Sacrament as
Jesus directed Fr. Carter.
R.
There is so much grace that God can
shower on us because of our prayers.
Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
‘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.’ "
Psalm 23: 1-6
Yahweh is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
In grassy meadows he lets me lie.By tranquil streams he leads me
to restore my spirit.
He guides me in paths of saving justice
as befits his name.Even were I to walk in a ravine as dark as death
I should fear no danger, for you are at my side.
Your staff and your crook are there to soothe me.You prepare a table for me
under the eyes of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup brims over.Kindness and faithful love pursue me
every day of my life.
I make my home in the house of Yahweh
for all time to come.
Ephesians 2: 13-18
But now in Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far off have been brought close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one entity and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, by destroying in his own person the hostility, that is, the Law of commandments with its decrees. His purpose in this was, by restoring peace, to create a single New Man out of the two of them, and through the cross, to reconcile them both to God in one Body; in his own person he killed the hostility. He came to bring the good news of peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. Through him, then, we both in the one Spirit have free access to the Father.
Mark 6: 30-34
The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that there was no time for them even to eat. So they went off in the boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many recognised them; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.
Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 19, 2009
HOMILY: There was a man who worked in a museum whose job it was to explain the different exhibits. On one occasion he pointed to the bones of a dinosaur saying the bones were 100 million and 9 years old. Someone asked how they could date those bones so accurately. He said “well, when I started working here, I was told these bones were 100 million years old and I’ve worked here for nine years.”
Today I want to give everyone a little history lesson. I’m not going back to the dinosaurs, but I am going back pretty far – to King David, 1000 years before Christ. When I was in school, I hated history. It wasn’t until we studied the history of the Old Testament in the seminary that I began to appreciate it. I cannot cram 1000 years of history into a couple of minutes. I just want to touch on the parts of Jewish history that are mentioned in today’s reading. If you want to learn more, read everything in the Old Testament, but be sure you have a commentary to help you. Otherwise, you’ll give up in despair because you won’t know what it’s all about - especially the prophets and the historical books.
When David was king 1000 years before Christ, David wanted to build a house for God, since there was no Temple for God at that time. God did not give David permission to do so, however God promised David through the prophet Nathan that he would bless him and build David a house in the sense that David’s kingdom would continue forever and one of his descendants would always rule. This blessing lasted through the reign of David’s son, Solomon; but we humans somehow have the ability to sabotage God’s blessings. Solomon turned to pagan gods and over-extended the country financially by elaborate building projects and exorbitant taxes, so when Solomon died there was a rebellion and most of Israel broke away from Solomon’s successor, David’s grandson, Rehoboam. Rehoboam continued to rule over the southern part of Israel, the area we know as Judaea . For 400 years (and this is amazing) the kings of Judaea were descendants of King David. The northern kingdom that rebelled against David’s successors suffered under a succession of kings and rebellions. In less than 300 years the northern kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians, people from northern Iraq. About 100 years after that, the Babylonians from southern Iraq conquered the Assyrians and took control of the entire Middle East. The conquest of the Babylonians brings us up to Jeremiah whom we heard in today’s first reading. At the time of Jeremiah, here was the situation: the northern kingdom no longer existed. The southern kingdom, Judaea, was still being ruled by David’s descendants but they were not loyal to God or to God’s laws. Jeremiah spoke to these kings as they came into power, the last four being: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoikin and Zedekiah. Zedikiah, the last reigning king, died in disgrace. After the Babylonians captured him, his sons were slaughtered before his eyes, he was then blinded and led off to Babylon in chains where he presumably died. You can read how Jeremiah spoke with them in great detail in the book of Jeremiah. He told them exactly what they needed to do to survive the invading forces of Babylon. His messages were ignored. He blames them and their leadership for the destruction that came upon God’s people. As we heard in today’s first reading, God speaks through Jeremiah: “Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture.” God said he would take over shepherding his people; he would bring them back from exile; he would appoint leaders over them who would serve them well and lead them to peace and security. It took 600 years before God thought the world was ready for this king who would reign and govern wisely, who would do what is just and right in the land.
But then he came, through the announcement of an angel to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel said to her “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
In last week’s gospel, Jesus sent his apostles out to heal and cast out demons and to call people to repentance. In today’s gospel we are told of their return, excited over their experience and tired. Jesus wanted to some time off, but he couldn’t. The mission of Jesus and his apostles apparently was so successful that a great crowd caught up with them before they had chance to catch their breath. Mark describes Jesus taking compassion on them (his heart was moved with deep sympathy for them would probably be a better translation). He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, - people without leadership, and he began to teach them.
One of the important messages in today’s readings is that in love our Lord leads us, by teaching us and appointing others to teach us. But we need to listen, and we need to keep on listening. We’ll never be finished listening and learning as long as our world suffers from injustice, poverty, hunger, discrimination, war, hatred and killing of innocent people. Christ would be put to death before he would stop teaching. It is to our own great loss when we stop listening. That’s one of the reasons we are here each weekend, to listen and to learn. We call ourselves disciples. The word disciple means learner. When we’ve quit learning, we’ve quit being a disciple.
August 29, 1994
Dear Friend,
I give my heart to Jesus and Mary with you in love.
Thank you so much for your donation.
It is because of your help we can do what Jesus and Mary tell us to do.
We finally got Fr. Joe's last homily book out to all priests in the United States.
We printed 40,000 and we needed most of them for the pope, the Cardinals of the world, all Bishops in the United States, and all priests in the United States.
Fr. Carter was told to spread the Shepherds of Christ Prayers all over the world.
We have them in 8 languages with the Church's Imprimatur.
We will send Fr. Joe's new edition of homilies out as soon as we get it done, before the new cycle begins with the first Sunday of Advent.
We start with the pope, all Cardinals of the world,
all Bishops in the United States, and all priests in the United States.
Jesus gave Fr. Carter this message to send the Priestly Mailing to all priests in the United States and the hierarchy.
Jesus told Fr. Carter to spread the prayer chapters all over the world.
The beauty of this Movement is all these priests probably keep Fr. Joe's book close at hand and in the back are the prayers Fr. Carter said Jesus gave him 20 years ago when Fr. Carter, S.J. (doctorate in theology) founded the Movement praying for the priests, the Church and the world at the direction of Jesus, he said in this message enclosed that Fr. Carter said Jesus gave him on the Feast of St. Ignatius 20 years ago.
Feast of St. Ignatius
From the hand of Fr. Carter 20 Years ago as Jesus delivered this message.
We are directed by Jesus to pray 8 days a month for the priests, the Church and the world.
We earnestly do this.
4 days in Florida ending on the 5th.
4 in China ending on the 13th with 3 or 4 Masses and the exposed Eucharist.
Every month we have usually 5 to 6 Masses and 8 days of prayer.
If we want the world to change we need to pray to God and Fr. Carter our founder told us Jesus wanted us to pray the prayers on the enclosed Prayer Brochure Centered in consecration to the Sacred Heart and Mary's Immaculate Heart.
So far we have sent 17,000,000 Priestly Newsletters around the world to priests and hierarchy.
Since these books of Fr. Joe's are probably in most priest's drawers in their desks all we need is one Cardinal or the pope to help us to endorse these prayers in the back of every homily book.
Please say the Shepherds of Christ Prayers praying for the priests, the Church and the world.
We need to pray now more than ever.
We can have a network of holy people dedicated to the Sacred Heart and Mary's Immaculate Heart in one mind and one heart praying for the world as Fr. Carter said Jesus told him to pray.
We usually print 20,000 of Fr. Joe's books and send them to the pope, all Cardinals of the world all Bishops of the United States - right away before December
and 4 states Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Florida.
Then we proceed until we reach every priest in the states that are on the Archdiocesan list.
We send a Prayer Brochure with every book and the prayers are in the back of the book too.
This costs $33,000 to send out the first batch and print 20,000 books for the rest of the priests.
This takes us a while to do but usually we are done a few months later.
We then have to print another 20,000 books of Fr. Joe's for the priests in the United States.
Cardinal George told me to do this 7 books ago.
If you can help with a donation it will help us do what Jesus asked Fr. Carter to do and we have done in the Priestly Mailing now for 20 years.
Fr. Joe's homily book is like a weekly Priestly Newsletter if the priest uses it once a week.
In the past we had a lot of the money from a person helping us a lot in the core of the Movement, but we needed that money for bills this year.
In any event please help us if you can and for sure pray your prayers in the prayer manual and pray for the Priestly Mailing.
We can use volunteers in China and Florida just to come and help us - a day, two days a week -whatever you can do.
Come during retreat and pray with us for the priests, the Church and the world.
Thank you for your donation and all your help.
Please spread the prayer chapters to others, the Blue Books and spread the homily books to deacons, music ministers, and the school principal and planner of things in the parish and education.
Thanks for all your help,
Sincerely,
Rita and the Shepherds of Christ Ministries, Servants, Handmaids, and all involved.With much love,
Rita Ring (Co-founder)
R. The Jews were taken captive by
the Babylonians after
they didn't listen to Jeremiah
Esther helped the Jews
There was rebellion by the Jews
all through salvation history –
(worshipping false gods sometimes)
Then they would get on the right
track again and God would
help them –
There was always wars
Even after World War II –
There was a cold war –
At Fatima Mary promised an era
of peace –
Until a sufficient number of people have consecrated their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we will not have peace in the world.
Mary's Peace Plan given at Fatima
- Until a sufficient number of people have consecrated their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we will not have peace in the world.
- Mary has requested all to pray the daily rosary.
- We must observe the Five First Saturday devotion:
- Communion, confession (within 8 days before or after the Saturday), recital of the rosary, meditating for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the rosary. All this is to be done in a spirit of reparation.- We must make reparation to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
R. God chose Mary, a virgin, to be the
Mother of God –
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.Holy Mary, pray for us (repeat after each invocation).
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the Covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace,Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.Let us pray: Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we Your servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of the blessed Mary, ever virgin, be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
Mary is the Queen of Peace
Sing: My Country 'Tis of Thee
Sing: America
R. John the Baptist was conceived
in Elizabeth, who was thought
barren –
John was to prepare the way for
the Lord –
John said
John 3: 30
He must grow greater,
I must grow less.
R. Jesus was born on Christmas –
There was no room for Him in
the Inn –
We must prepare our hearts for
Christmas –
Pray to have hearts of love –
The Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart are
the two greatest hearts of love –
We need to consecrate our hearts to
the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart
and
spread this devotion –
Mary said at Fatima
The Kings came to worship Jesus in
the stable –
God the Father gave a big sign
with the star over His crib
in Bethlehem.
Mary and Jesus had to flee because
of the massacre of the
innocent at Bethlehem
(Religious Persecution!)
History repeats itself!
Mary and Jesus could then return –
John the Baptist
preached "Repent"
Jesus is baptized by John at the Jordon!
John the Baptist lost his
head
(Religious Persecution)
History repeats itself!
The Wedding Feast of Cana –
first recognized miracle of Jesus –
Jesus begins His public ministry –
Jesus cleanses the Temple
Jesus calls his disciples –
Some of the Miracles of Jesus
Jesus turned water into wine
Lepers were made clean
Healings
Peter's mother-in-law cured of fever
The Storm was quieted
Jesus drove out demons
Hemorrhage was cured
Jaruis' daughter
The blind man received sight
The withered hand - restored
Jesus walked on water
Jesus fed 5000
Jesus fed 4000
Man couldn't hear
Catching fish
People brought back from
the dead –
Crippled were healed
Malchus' ear healed
Lazarus came forth from the dead
R.
Jesus teaches
Jesus heals –
Matthew 7: 12
‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the prophets.
R. Jesus fed 5000
Jesus walks on water
Jesus is transfigured
Jesus helps a woman
accused of adultery
from being stoned to death –
Parables
Luke 13: 6-9
Parable of the barren fig tree
He told this parable, ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to his vinedresser, “For three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied, “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.” ’
Luke 14: 7-24
He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, 'When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, "Give up your place to this man." And then, to your embarrassment, you will have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, "My friend, move up higher." Then, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.'
Then he said to his host, 'When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbours, in case they invite you back and so repay you. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you and so you will be repaid when the upright rise again.'
On hearing this, one of those gathered round the table said to him, 'Blessed is anyone who will share the meal in the kingdom of God!' But he said to him, 'There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, "Come along: everything is ready now." But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, "I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies." Another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies." Yet another said, "I have just got married and so am unable to come." 'The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame." "Sir," said the servant, "your orders have been carried out and there is still room." Then the master said to his servant, "Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and press people to come in, to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet." '
Matthew 13: 44
'The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off in his joy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.
R. House on sand
We see how he calls laborers into
the vineyard
He rewards them –
He wants the lost sheep to come
back
We see the miracle of the mustard
seed –
We see how He brings in
so many fish – when the
Apostles caught nothing –
We see the love of the Father
with the prodigal son –
Matthew 13: 1-23
Introduction
That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables.
Parable of the sower
He said, ‘Listen, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Anyone who has ears should listen!
Why Jesus speaks in parables
Then, the disciples went up to him and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ In answer, he said, ‘Because to you is granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not granted. Anyone who has will be given more and will have more than enough; but anyone who has not will be deprived even of what he has. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah is being fulfilled:
Listen and listen, but never understand!
Look, and look, but never perceive!
This people’s heart has grown coarse,
their ears dulled,
they have shut their eyes tight
to avoid using their eyes to see,
their ears to hear,
their heart to understand,
changing their ways
and being healed by me.‘But blessed are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! In truth I tell you, many prophets and upright people longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.
The parable of the sower explained
‘So pay attention to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the Evil One comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the seed sown on the edge of the path. The seed sown on patches of rock is someone who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But such a person has no root deep down and does not last; should some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, at once he falls away. The seed sown in thorns is some one who hears the word, but the worry of the world and the lure of riches choke the word and so it produces nothing. And the seed sown in rich soil is someone who hears the word and understands it; this is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’
Matthew 25: 14-30
‘It is like a man about to go abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one, each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out on his journey. The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now a long time afterwards, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.” Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.” Last came forward the man who had the single talent. “Sir,” said he, “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown and gathering where you had not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have got my money back with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he has. As for this good–for–nothing servant, throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”
R. We see with the 2 sons – one
was sincere and did what
the Father asked for –
the other was not sincere –
he said he would do it and
he didn't do it!!
Be watchful and ready – you
know not the time –
Matthew 25:1-13
Parable of the ten wedding attendants
‘Then the kingdom of Heaven will be like this: Ten wedding attendants took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones, though they took their lamps, took no oil with them, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there as a cry, "Look! The bridegroom! Go out and meet him." Then all those wedding attendants woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, "Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out." But they replied, "There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves." They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other attendants arrived later. "Lord, Lord," they said, "open the door for us." But he replied, "In truth I tell you, I do not know you." So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.
Luke 16: 1
He also said to his disciples, 'There was a rich man and he had a steward who was denounced to him for being wasteful with his property.
R. We see God wants faithfulness –
wants us trustworthy
Jesus was healing and teaching –
Jesus taught in the parables
Jesus was healing in the miracles
Jesus showed His might –
Calming the sea
Miracle of catching fish
Miracle of loaves and fish –
Jesus teaching and healing –
Jesus shows His power –
We see Jesus washing the feet of
the Apostles.
Jesus shows humility –
Jesus is the suffering servant –
Jesus washed their feet –
Sing: Jesus Took a Towel
Judas is a betrayer –
Judas sold Jesus for 30
pieces of silver
Jesus took Peter, James and John
in the Garden
Jesus was arrested
Judas kissed Jesus as a
sign to the ones
arresting Jesus –
two-faced – !!
Jesus then had to stand trial –
Judas betrayed Jesus –
Judas was an apostle –
now two-faced
– secrets –
Judas plotting behind Jesus' back –
Jesus was brought before Pilate
and Herod –
Judas set Jesus up!
What a betrayer!
Sneaky behind Jesus' back –
Then Judas kissed Jesus to
betray Him –
Judas: two-faced
Pilate was even warned
by his wife –
They released Barabbas
Jesus was scourged –
They crowned Jesus with
thorns –
They condemned Jesus to death!
(Religious Persecution)
Judas repented and hung himself!
There was a procession to Calvary –
How sick is that –
Simon of Cyrene helped
carry the cross
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© 2014 Shepherds of Christ.