Dear Friend,
Jesus came and recovered His Lost Flock. Today, His Lost Flock is very evident in our midst. He is still amongst them but do they see Him? How can they feel His Holy Presence? Jesus told Peter to take care of His Flock -- to feed His Flock -- if he loved Him. Let us reflect on this Sunday's Gospel to see what Jesus would do in today's situation. Let us read it together:
"My sheep hear my voice and I know them, they follow me and I give them eternal life. They shall never perish and no one will ever steal them from me. What the Father has given me is stronger than everything and no one can snatch it from the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:27-30)
What is Jesus saying about Himself and about His sheep? He leads the Flock, He speaks to them and they follow. They are one with Him and the Father.
Is this what is happening today? Do they know that to have life, they have to follow Jesus? If they do not follow Him, is it because they do not know Him and do not hear His voice? If they do hear a voice, do they recognize Him? Or do they listen to someone else who wishes to snatch them from Him?
Prayer and Reflection ~
What is my role in this situation?
What is the need of the Flock?
-
Why do they blindly follow their worldly "heroes" and "idols"? What aspirations are these worldly leaders addressing to attract the simple and unsuspecting?
-
They see in their idols a hope for a better life that they could not get elsewhere, so that they would even die for them.
-
But is this not the mission of Jesus -- to give life in abundance? * Is this not the mission of the Church? Might the Church not be failing in its mission? What must the Church do? What must I do?
First of all, they must be heard. Let them ventilate their aspirations in a small group I can participate in. Let them participate in their own development as families, as a community.
This calls for an integrated approach involving the whole Church (I cannot do it alone).
It is the time for us, in the Church, to put this thing together with our marginalized and misguided brothers and sisters.
Let them see that this time, things will move -- something will happen. Let them feel my sincerity. Let them feel my love. They ought to be one with us, as Jesus is one with the Father.
Can we get together on this?
Joe & Charito
__________________________________
* John 10:10 -- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org
|
