Archive for April 22, 2013

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: April 22, 2013 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Do we blame others for our lack of faith? Or unbelief? Do we blame Jesus? Do we blame our Church? Or our priests for not doing enough? Our parents?

Or do we instead take ownership and the steps necessary to hear the voice of Jesus? By turning away from sin, repenting, reconciling ourselves with God and being faithful to His Word.

Our one triune and loving God assures us today that we who are faithful to His Word will always hear His voice and that no evil, no one or anything can ever take us away from Him.

Let us rejoice as one and declare “We adore You O Lord our God, we will live according to Your Word.” Amen.

GOSPEL John 10:22–30

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: April 22, 2013 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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John10_1_JesusTheGoodShepherd

Do we think ourselves wiser than others? Holier? More prayerful? More reverent? Doing more good works? So that all these assures us a place in God’s Kingdom? Let us rethink that notion, for did our true shepherd not say that for many who now first, will be last? And he who does the least to/for my brothers, does unto me?

We are all called to be good Shepherds to lead His flock, Not Ours to pasture. Do we then listen to our own voice? Our own beliefs? Our own way? Do we listen to the voice of the world? Do we rob others by leading them and ourselves astray?

Our Lord’s loving voice is distinct, there is no way of mistaking Him for another if we have familiarised ourselves by listening to His Word, by living His Word. Only with, through and in Him can we hope to have life eternal.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one Good Shepherd, He is the Truth, the Light and the Way. Through Him we have life and have it abundantly. Amen

John 10:1-10

Jesus the Good Shepherd

10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. 9 I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.