Christ, the Good Shepherd

I have always loved the Shepherd analogies in the Bible. Psalm 23 was the first Bible passages I learned. In fact, it was the only one my mother taught me. It has always stayed with me from the time I was a little girl. 

The story of the Good Shepherd searching for the lost sheep is a story I love to tell to children. Jesus is that Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep. Such beautiful images come to mind, ones that bring comfort and encouragement. 

Christ loves us. Christ came to find us. We easily stray away. We get into messes. He gave Himself to us in love. We give ourselves to Him. 

Such beautiful simplicity! 
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Here is part of a homily from a long, long time ago. 

From a homily on the Gospels by Saint Gregory the Great, pope
Christ the good shepherd

I am the good shepherd. I know my own — by which I mean, I love them — and my own know me. In plain words: those who love me are willing to follow me, for anyone who does not love the truth has not yet come to know it.

My dear brethren, you have heard the test we pastors have to undergo. Turn now to consider how these words of our Lord imply a test for yourselves also. Ask yourselves whether you belong to his flock, whether you know him, whether the light of his truth shines in your minds. I assure you that it is not by faith that you will come to know him, but by love; not by mere conviction, but by action. John the evangelist is my authority for this statement. He tells us that anyone who claims to know God without keeping his commandments is a liar.

Consequently, the Lord immediately adds: As the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. Clearly he means that laying down his life for his sheep gives evidence of his knowledge of the Father and the Father’s knowledge of him. In other words, by the love with which he dies for his sheep he shows how greatly he loves his Father.

Again he says: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them; they follow me, and I give them eternal life. Shortly before this he had declared: If anyone enters the sheepfold through me he shall be saved; he shall go freely in and out and shall find good pasture.He will enter into a life of faith; from faith he will go out to vision, from belief to contemplation, and will graze in the good pastures of everlasting life.

So our Lord’s sheep will finally reach their grazing ground where all who follow him in simplicity of heart will feed on the green pastures of eternity. These pastures are the spiritual joys of heaven. There the elect look upon the face of God with unclouded vision and feast at the banquet of life for ever more.

Beloved brothers, let us set out for these pastures where we shall keep joyful festival with so many of our fellow citizens. May the thought of their happiness urge us on! Let us stir up our hearts, rekindle our faith, and long eagerly for what heaven has in store for us. To love thus is to be already on our way. No matter what obstacles we encounter, we must not allow them to turn us aside from the joy of that heavenly feast. Anyone who is determined to reach his destination is not deterred by the roughness of the road that leads to it. Nor must we allow the charm of success to seduce us, or we shall be like a foolish traveler who is so distracted by the pleasant meadows through which he is passing that he forgets where he is going.

RESPONSORY See John 10:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 5:7

The Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep has risen from the dead.
— For the sake of the flock he willingly suffered death, alleluia.

One

I don’t pretend to be any kind of authority at all, but I am recording here some of the things that I am noticing in Scripture. See, when I was a Protestant, I had trained myself to ignore any evidence that would tend to support the Catholic teaching that Peter is the first Pope. Now I am noticing the Biblical evidence for the fact that Peter is indeed the first Pope. 

I know. For a non Catholic Christian, that is a stretch, but what if the Catholic Church is right?  I believe she is. I know you won’t take my word for it, but take a look for yourself.

Come and see. 

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 Jerusalem council. 

Notice a pattern developing.  

1. There was much debate first.

2. Then it came time to settle the matter.

3. Peter led the way. 

4. The debate ended and all grew silent. They must have been thinking through what Peter reported as well as what had been discussed. 

5. A decision was made. Scripture was invoked. James made his recommendation. 

Peter’s appeal was to the fact that in Christ, both Jew and Gentile are one in Christ. God makes no distinction based on ethnicity.  

James made his pastoral recommendations, but it was Peter whom God used to clarify the doctrinal matter. He was the one who saw that the debate needed to come to an end. 

The decision needed to be the only possible one. Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ had been given the same Holy Spirit. Therefore there is only one faith, one way to be saved. There is only one Holy Spirit who had been given to Jew and Gentile alike through their common faith in Christ.

Paul, in Ephesians 4:1-6 later elaborated on this oneness inherent in our faith. One times 7 still equals one. 

One faith. One Lord. One Baptism. One Spirit. One hope. One body. One God and Father of all. 

Here is a Ignatius Press Study Bible comment on Peter's and James’ roles in the decision making process. 

15:11 we believe: Peter speaks as the head and spokesman of the apostolic Church. He formulates a doctrinal judgment about the means of salvation, whereas James takes the floor after him to suggest a pastoral plan for inculturating the gospel in mixed communities where Jewish and Gentile believers live side by side (15:13-21).

Back
Hahn, Scott; Mitch, Curtis (2010-06-14). The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (Kindle Locations 14538-14541). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition. 

[To access more of today’s Mass readings, click on the Bible references. You can also watch to a Daily Reflections video. 

Alleluia Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep know my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Reading 1 Acts 15:7-21

After much debate had taken place,
Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,
“My brothers, you are well aware that from early days
God made his choice among you that through my mouth
the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.
And God, who knows the heart,
bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit
just as he did us.
He made no distinction between us and them,
for by faith he purified their hearts.
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test
by placing on the shoulders of the disciples
a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”
The whole assembly fell silent,
and they listened
while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders
God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

After they had fallen silent, James responded,
“My brothers, listen to me.
Symeon has described how God first concerned himself
with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:

After this I shall return
and rebuild the fallen hut of David;
from its ruins I shall rebuild it
and raise it up again,
so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,
even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.
Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
known from of old.

It is my judgment, therefore,
that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,
but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,
unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.
For Moses, for generations now,
has had those who proclaim him in every town,
as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”

St. Thomas Aquinas - For Ordering a life Wisely - prayer

More evidence to the fact that St. Thomas Aquinas is indeed Catholic, and not a proto-Protestant as some claim. I am glad that many Protestants wish to self-identify as Thomists.  Not intending to offend, just state the truth about St. Thomas Aquinas. 

It is said that St. Thomas recited this daily before the image of Christ. Notice that he did not claim the kind of assurance of salvation that many Protestant groups promise. There is no sense of “once saved, always saved” in these words. 

He prayed for perseverance, something that not even he presumed to already have. 

On the other hand, there is really nothing in this prayer that a non-Catholic Christian should feel uncomfortable praying. It is truly Christian. Truly Catholic.  

~ For Ordering a life Wisely ~

O merciful God, grant that I may desire ardently, search prudently,
and bring to perfect completion whatever is pleasing to You for the
praise and glory of your name.

Put my life in good order, O my God.

Grant that I may know what you require me to do.

Bestow upon me the power to accomplish Your will, as is necessary 
and fitting for the salvation of my soul.

Grant to me, O Lord my God, that I may not falter in times of prosperity 
or adversity, so that I may not be exalted in the former, nor dejected
in the latter.

May I not rejoice in anything unless it leads me to You; may I not be 
saddened by anything unless it turns me from you.

May I desire to please no one, nor fear to displease anyone, but You.

May all transitory things, O Lord, be worthless to me and may all things
eternal be ever cherished by me.

May any joy without You be burdensome for me and may I not desire any-
thing else besides You.

May all work, O Lord, delight me when done for Your sake and may all
repose not centered in You be ever wearisome for me.

Grant unto me, my God, that I may direct my heart to You and that in my 
failures I may ever feel remorse for my sins and never lose the resolve to
change.

O Lord my God, make me submissive without protest, poor without discouragement,
chaste without regret, patient without complaint, humble without posturing,
cheerful without frivolity, mature without gloom, and quick-witted without
flippancy.

O Lord my God, let me fear You without losing hope, be truthful without guile,
do good works without presumption, rebuke my neighbor without haughtiness,
and - without hypocrisy - strengthen him by word and example.

Give to me, O Lord God, a watchful heart, which no capricious thought can lure
me away from You.

Give to me a noble heart, which no unworthy desire can debase.

Give to me a resolute heart, which no evil intention can divert.

Give to me a stalwart heart, which no tribulation can overcome.

Give to me a temperate heart, which no violent passion can enslave.

Give to me, O Lord my God, understanding of You, diligence in seeking You, wisdom
in finding You, discourse ever pleasing to You, perseverance in waiting for You,
and confidence in finally embracing You.

Grant that with Your hardships I may be burdened in reparation here, that Your
benefits I may use in gratitude upon the way, that in Your joys I may delight by
glorifying You in the Kingdom of Heaven.

You Who live and reign, God, world without end.


Amen

Thanksgiving After Mass

THE PRAYER OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS

THANKSGIVING AFTER MASS - from EWTN Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will.  May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You. And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, tota fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. grant this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.

Thanksgiving After Mass

THE PRAYER OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS

THANKSGIVING AFTER MASS Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will.  May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You. And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. grant this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.

The Unity of the Catholic Church in all Her Parts

This excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains briefly why the Church is one. There is one Triune God, one Word of God, one Savior, one Spirit, and so forth. How can there then be more than one Church? 

Non Catholic Christians for the most part also recognize this fact - there is only one Church. However most have given up on visible unity for the present time. Visible unity is impossible to achieve this side of eternity, or so the reasoning goes. So, it is foolish and even spiritually dangerous to try to push for visible unity according to many if not most non Catholic Christian groups. 

So, denominations proliferate, each one believing itself to be the closest to what Scripture teaches. 

Unity is not a priority at all among non Catholic Christians. 

The Catholic Church values unity and works towards both invisible and visible unity. Unity is one of the four marks of the true Church, - as in one holy apostolic and Catholic Church as stated in the Nicene Creed.  

This high priority on unity is further evidence that the Catholic Church is the true Church. No other Christian group has worked as hard to restore unity. 

Notice that non Catholic Christians, united in true baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit are brothers in Christ. Not very many non Catholic Christian groups consider Catholics to be brothers and sisters in Christ. That is a tragedy. Yes, I used to think that way, so I know. 

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The following is from the CCC.

I. THE CHURCH IS ONE ⇡

"The sacred mystery of the Church's unity" (UR 2) ⇡

172
766
797
(all)

813

The Church is one because of her source: "the highest exemplar and source of this mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit."259 The Church is one because of her founder: for "the Word made flesh, the prince of peace, reconciled all men to God by the cross, ... restoring the unity of all in one people and one body."260 The Church is one because of her "soul": "It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that he is the principle of the Church's unity."261 Unity is of the essence of the Church: What an astonishing mystery! There is one Father of the universe, one Logos of the universe, and also one Holy Spirit, everywhere one and the same; there is also one virgin become mother, and I should like to call her "Church."262

259.

UR 2 § 5.

260.

GS 78 § 3.

261.

UR 2 § 2.

262.

St. Clement Of Alexandria, Pæd. 1,6,42:PG 8,300...

Wounds to unity ⇡

2089
(all)

817

In fact, "in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church — for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame."269 The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ's Body — here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism270 — do not occur without human sin: Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers.271

269.

UR 3 § 1.

270.

Cf. CIC, can. 751.

271.

Origen, Hom. in Ezech. 9,1:PG 13,732.

1271
(all)

818

"However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . ... All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."272

272.

UR 3 § 1.

819

"Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth"273 are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."274 Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."276

273.

LG 8 § 2.

274.

UR 3 § 2; cf. LG 15.

275.

Cf. UR 3.

276.

Cf. LG 8.

Not to condemn the world...

I receive the Daily Readings for Mass that are sent to me from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Along with reading them, I also watch the Daily Reflections Video for that day. All of them are very well done. Some of the commenters are outstanding.

Jem Sullivan is one of the best.

In today’s reflection, she reminded us that as we look at the world, we can get very discouraged. We can become judgmental and condemning. I know I can, Jesus, though, teaches us to love, forgive, and pray for others. He did not come to condemn people, but to save them.

Simple, but clear. In fact, it seems to me that  Protestants would also find these readings and videos to be edifying.

Daily Reflections Video - Jem Sullivan, PhD

Jn 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said,
“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

St. Thomas Aquinas - The Aquinas Catechism - A Simple Explanation of the Catholic Faith

There is a great little book that is available through Amazon Kindle called The Aquinas Catechism. It is a brief expostion and commentary on the Apostles’ Creed and other Church teachings. 

Aquinas can be quite daunting, but this little piece is written for the ordinary Christian who doesn’t necessarily have a lot of background in philosophy, theology, or Biblical studies. It is quite intense, though with a lot of teaching packed into few words. 

I think that the book can be found free online as well. Here are a couple of quotes from that book. 

We are not left alone to grope around looking for God. He revealed Himself to us in creation, in the written Word, and most specifically in the person of Jesus Christ. 
(Hebrews 1, Romans 1, etc.)

Then, I like the second quote. For those of us who love theology, it is a good reminder. I love theological sparring, though I am just a plain Bible thumper, now Catholic.  

God became man so that we can know God. 

Like my friend TVD - Tom Van Dyke - said, " "Arguing theology in the first place is wrong. Theologizing should be a joint effort to bring each other closer to God, to quiet our minds and our fears. “ 
- TVD
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We are told that a certain philosopher spent thirty years in solitude in the endeavor to know the nature of the bee. If our intelligence is so weak, is it not foolish to be willing to believe about God only what we are able to find out by ourselves alone?

"God did not become man in order that man might become a theologian.”

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The Apostles’ Creed

 I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Are Catholic Christians “Saved”? - Yes

I was talking with some Christians at the Old Life blog. It is frustrating because the attitude seems to be that they are saved, being part of the elect, but Catholics are worshipping a different God. Therefore Catholics cannot be saved. 

Evangelical Christians focus on personal salvation. Catholics focus on the Eucharist. So not all Catholics know what to say if asked whether or not they are saved. 

What is odd is that the 3 part outline of our salvation is almost exactly what Protestants claim to believe. There are slight differences, like we Catholics do not add “justified by faith ALONE”. The Bible clearly teaches that we are not justified by faith alone. (James 2). It is also clear that we are justified by faith. 

Luther is the one who added that word “alone” to the text of Scripture, and very few Protestants are willing to question his authority on that. It is odd since Protestants also believe it to be a grave sin to add to or take away from Scripture. Yet their key doctrine does just that. 

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Ali:
It all fits together, to the glory and praise of God.>>>>>

Let me give you a more complete answer. If you ask me whether or not I am saved, here is my answer. Catholic Christians are Bible Christians. 

1. Yes, I am saved. [justified by grace through faith-Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8 2]. 

2. Yes, I am being saved. [being sanctified-1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12] 3. 

3. Yes, I have the hope that I will be saved. [future glory-Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15] Meanwhile, I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling, just as all Christians are or should be [Phil. 2:12] I am trusting in the promises of Christ, as I expect you are. 

Here Hebrews 10 comes into play. I have no plans to shrink back. However, I have read about some of the tortures, humiliations, and martyrdom that Christians have faced even in recent times. I know that if I am called to suffer in that way for Christ, He will make His grace available to me. Will I shrink back? 

I think that all Christians need to face that question. 

Also, if I begin to live a careless life, – which I am not planning to do – can I presume that “once saved always saved” will get me through? See Ezekiel 33:18. I don’t see in Scripture that God gives us that kind of assurance. 

Hebrews 10
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
37 For,

“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Ezekiel 33:18
18 When the righteous turn from their righteousness, and commit iniquity, they shall die for it.

Phil 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

The Eucharist - Resurrection

If our flesh is not saved, then the Lord has not redeemed us with his blood, the eucharistic chalice does not make us sharers in his blood, and the bread we break does not make us sharers in his body...

The Wisdom of God places these things at the service of man and when they receive God’s word they become the eucharist, which is the body and blood of Christ. In the same way our bodies, which have been nourished by the eucharist, will be buried in the earth and will decay, but they will rise again at the appointed time, for the Word of God will raise them up to the glory of God the Father. Then the Father will clothe our mortal nature in immortality and freely endow our corruptible nature with incorruptibility, for God’s power is shown most perfectly in weakness.

-From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop
The eucharist, pledge of our resurrection

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We human beings are both physical and spiritual. If the Eucharist were only spiritual and symbolic then how would it nourish and give life to the whole person?

As St. Irenaeus said so long ago, the Eucharist makes us sharers in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He wasn’t raised a mere spirit, but His physical body was also raised from the dead.

So, why would the Eucharist be only spiritual?  It is not just our spirits that will be raised incorruptible, but our bodies as well. 

1 Corinthians 15:42-53New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is[a] from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will[b] also bear the image of the man of heaven.50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters,[c] is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die,[d] but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.