Apr 17, 2018
by Sr. Marcella Parrish, SSMO
My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me.
Two thousand years later, I wonder if Jesus says the same thing about us with the same confidence. He still loves us with the same deep love He had for His sheep so long ago. But do we follow so well? So many of our values—faith, family, freedom, care for creation –are questioned or denied almost daily.
A few years ago a favorite motto was WWJD? — what would Jesus do? Children, teenagers, and adults alike wore WWJD? jewelry, bracelets, and shirts to remind them to renew the motto often, live it daily, and encourage others to join us in consciously making the world a better place to live. A good example for all of us to follow is Pope Francis whose daily memo gives us much to think about and practice. Let us each make a daily conscious effort to create a more positive world by strengthening family practices, living and sharing our faith, seeking to make freedom ring again in our land and throughout the world, and making the sacrifices needed to recreate our universe for the betterment of all peoples and creatures.
Apr 16, 2018
by Mr. Gerardo V. Laguartilla, CPPS Seminarian
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
In the Gospel, Jesus plainly says that He is the Good Shepherd and the sheep gate. There are many doors or gate available to us to enter, to touch and to communicate to the sheep. Please choose Jesus, for only in Jesus, we will not be astray. Only in Jesus we will have life and it is an abundant life. Whoever ever enter into the door of a relationship with Jesus, he or she will not be endangered and will not be left outside or locked out. He or she will find a real home to belong. He or she will be safe according to Jesus. If Jesus is the door, the sheep can also get out of that door and face life. What is that life according to Jesus? I am the way, the truth and the life and he also adds no one goes to the Father except through me. This is the abundant life that our Shepherd and door leads us to.
I had the chance to interview a former prisoner. He said, “one lesson that I learned in jail was the door the path that I must take is that of Jesus.” With Jesus you may not get rich right away, you may not become successful all the time but you know you’re on the right path and he said this after discovering who Jesus is and following him. I discovered peace and life that Jesus the shepherd and the door has promised. Blessed Easter to all! May the Precious Blood of Jesus give us life in abundance. Amen.
Apr 16, 2018
by Judy Keisling, Liberty, Missouri Companion
On Sunday afternoon, April 15, the long awaited groundbreaking for the new St. James Church in Liberty was realized. More than 400 parishioners and others gathered as Bishop Johnston, Fr. Mike Roach, Fr. Timothy Armbruster, and Deacon Chuck Koesterer “turned the dirt” at the site of the new church on the knoll south of the school.
The celebration, which began in the church due to the inclement weather, included recognition of former St. James C.PP.S. pastors Fr. Joe Miller, Fr. Ron Will, and Fr. Tom Albers, a short biography of the life of St. James, and a brief history of the parish from 1847 to the present. This was followed by a procession to the new church site for Bishop Johnston’s blessing and the actual groundbreaking, complete with gold shovels. A reception in the parish hall followed.
Apr 15, 2018
by Rev. Ken Schnipke, C.PP.S., Cincinnati Province
“I am the Good Shepherd”
The fourth Sunday of Easter is often called Good Shepherd Sunday. The gospel reveals the love Jesus has for each of us as the Good Shepherd.
In biblical times, the shepherd stayed with the sheep most of the time. He led them during the day, helped them to find water and food, protected them from any danger, helped them find their way when they got lost and often slept near them at night to keep them safe. Villages usually had an enclosed area nearby surrounded by stones or briars with one opening. Each night sheep in the village would be gathered into the sheepfold and the shepherds would take turns acting as a gatekeeper, lying down across the opening of the sheepfold becoming the gate – keeping the sheep in and the wolves out. If the sheep were threatened in any way, the shepherd would stand by them to defend them. In the morning, each shepherd would return with a particular call or whistle which their sheep would know and follow. They would not respond to any other shepherd, only to their own. Rather than follow behind the sheep, pushing them along as modern sheepherders do, the shepherds in the time of Jesus would walk before their sheep as their leader.
The message Jesus the Good Shepherd has several layers. Initially, just as the shepherd was always with his sheep, forming the gate and guarding them with his very life, so too Jesus is the gatekeeper who is always with us, guarding us with his very life and keeping us safe. He is the one who helps us find our way when we are lost or stray. Secondly, the sheep know their master’s voice and follow. Likewise, we are called to know and follow the voice of Jesus. The challenge is hearing the voice of the Lord among so many voices today. Jesus reminds us that he is the true voice we need to listen to and follow. Thirdly, Jesus portrays a true leader not as one who pushes followers out into the dangers of the world, but one who leads them with courage and faith. In very simplistic terms, Jesus says a leader must be one who practices what they preach. The parent who teaches their children to pray and be good Christians must also take the time themselves to pray and to live what they teach. The priest, religious or teacher who proclaims God’s love must also live that love. And the boss who demands a certain quality of work, must also be willing to live up to those standards. Lastly, Jesus is pointing out that he is the gate. He is the one through whom we need to pass in order to find our way to the Father and to the peace and joy of the heavenly kingdom.
May we listen to Jesus the Good Shepherd and follow him closely.
Apr 14, 2018
by Ms. Mary A. Stasiak, ASC Associate Coordinator, Eastern Area Associates
Many of the disciples who were listening said,
“This saying is hard; who can accept it?” As a result,
many disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
What were the words Jesus spoke that turned away these disciples? “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever.”
How seriously do we take these words every time we receive Jesus’ Body and Blood?
Most of us received our First Holy Communion as children. Can you remember the studying, anticipation, waiting, longing to receive Jesus? And finally, the day arrived. We were filled with joy, excitement and a heart bursting with love because we possessed not only Jesus, but his Promise of Eternal Life.
Now many years later, do we still experience the anticipation, the longing and remember the Promise of Eternal Life before we receive Jesus’ Sacred Body and Blood? Or, like the disciples who turned away, do we find the words of Eternal Life a hard saying and receive Jesus’ Sacred Body and Blood thoughtlessly, routinely? Is it just an automatic action which is part of the Mass?
Jesus gave his body and shed his blood and made a covenant with us and at every Mass the bread and the wine truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus.
May we never forget or take for granted that Jesus’ Body and Blood sustains, delights, surprises, impels and is shared among us for all eternity.
We accept your hard words and thank you Jesus for Your Eternal, Life Giving Sacrifice.
