Second Tuesday of Advent

Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

We are all called to be heralds of the Good News to the world around us. We do this through our thoughts, our words, and especially through our works. We give witness to God’s Goodness, Love, and Mercy through sharing our own faith with those we meet each day from friends and family to neighbors and strangers. We shouldn’t be afraid of what others might think of us for devoting our lives to God and His Church. After all, if we live according to the Gospels, then we shall receive the greatest reward... eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Besides being heralds, we are also tasked with being co-shepherds feeding God’s flock with good works, helping God gather others into lives of saintliness, carrying those who are injured by sin, and leading the young and old alike toward our Savior through acts of charity and mercy.

In what ways are we acting as heralds of the Good News? How can we do a better job of fulfilling our calling to proclaim the Word of God? How can we become better shepherds and lead others to faith in our Merciful Lord?

O Lord, give us what we need to be heralds of the faith and shepherds of your flock.

Amen.

Fifth Saturday of Easter

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Alleluia. Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends.

We are God’s flock. He watches over us like a Good Shepherd, protecting us from harm. He guides us to green pastures and feeds us with the Bread of Life and the Wine of Salvation. He guards us from all our foes and does everything He can to raise and nurture us. He wants us all to be holy and healthy. He calls us back to Him when we go astray and carries us on His shoulders when we are weak. We would do well to follow his example and imitate him in all these things as we tend to the needs of our brothers and sisters in this world.

Do we cry out with joy for all God has done for us? Are we willing to be led by our Good Shepherd where we need to go? How can we be good shepherds to others?

O Lord, tend us.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

God is a Good Shepherd. He is constantly looking out for our best interests. If we begin to wander away from Him, He gives us ample warning. If we put ourselves before others, He reminds us what is true important. If we get into danger, He guards us. If we are lost, He will guide us. If we are in need, He provides for us. If we are in sorrow, He comforts us. If we have fallen into sin, He offers us His Divine Grace to help us return to Him.

Are we good shepherds of those who are put into our care? How can we become better shepherds of others? Are our ears open for God to call us?

O Lord, with you, we will never be spiritually hungry or thirsty.

Amen.

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts.

Woe to us all if we do not do our part in shepherding people. Like Jesus, we are all called to be shepherds to our fellow man. We are asked to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. We are tasked with caring for the sick and injured, bringing back the lost, and treating others with compassion. These are all things Jesus did during his most holy life and we would do well to imitate him from the moment we rise in the morning to the moment we fall asleep at night.

What are we doing to help shepherd the people in our lives? How are we bringing them closer to God? In what ways are we being charitable and merciful to those we meet each day?

O Lord, make us good shepherds.

Amen.

Sixteenth Friday in Ordinary Time

I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently. When you multiply and become fruitful in the land, says the LORD, They will in those days no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of the LORD!" They will no longer think of it, or remember it, or miss it, or make another.

God gives us many shepherds to help us through our lives. He gives us our families, our friends, our teachers, our priests and religious, and our neighbors. They might not be perfect or even good shepherds, but God always gives us enough spiritual guidance from the Holy Spirit to know who is a good and bad influence on us. He always gives us what we need to live wisely and prudently and help others to do that same. If we know something or someone is no good for us, then we have to give it or them up. If we are faithful to God, then our memories of what we have given up will fade away and we shall not miss what has been sacrificed for the greater good of our souls.

Who are the good and faithful shepherds in our lives? How can listen to them and God more faithfully? What things or people do we need to give up in order to be holier?

O Lord, appoint your shepherds over us and lead us to the Promised Land.

Amen.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

We all are shepherds in some way. We might have children of our own to lead and guide through their lives. We might have jobs that require us to tend to others through service. There might be some other duty we are bound to which gives us responsibilities and duties towards others. No matter what position of power we are in, we should make sure to do not lord it over others, but rather lead by good and loving example. In this way, we can imitate Jesus, who was a good and faithful servant of all in spite of being the most powerful man to ever walk the earth.

How can we be better shepherds? Who are the people who are in our care? What can we do to guide them to better, holier, and love-filled lives?

O Lord, inspire your shepherds to lead your flock closer to you in all things.

Amen.

Fourteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

Jesus calls us all to seek out his lost sheep and proclaim the kingdom of God is at hand. The lost sheep in our lives can be family, friends, neighbors, and strangers who have lost their way in life and need someone to guide them back to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To lead someone back to the faith is one of the most important acts of love and mercy we can perform in our lives. We might not always succeed and may even suffer because of our attempts, but no matter what happens as long as we do our best to bring people home to God, then that is all that matters.

Who are the lost sheep in our lives? What can we do to lead them back to God? How do our thoughts, words, and works proclaim the kingdom to all we meet?

O Lord, help us to lead your lost sheep home.

Amen.