The Sheepfold and the Voice of the Shepherd

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Stone sheepfold John 10:22-30 Recently my boys have been spending a great deal of time outside in the area that will soon be transformed into our garden. They spend endless hours digging in the dirt for worms. They then promptly take those worms and throw them to the chickens. It amazes me how even chickens can learn to recognize sounds or voices. My oldest makes this funny high-pitched sound when he comes out of the house and heads toward the coop. The chickens practically fall over themselves running toward the fence or out of the coop when they hear him making his sound. They know there is food to follow! In Sunday's Gospel Jesus tells us that, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." and "I am the gate for the sheep." Today, again, Jesus mentions that His sheep know His voice and follow Him.  In these few verses we learn that Jesus is both gate and shepherd for the sheep. In those days and even today in some places, a sheepfold w
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Labeling Others

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(Click the link for an interesting article and quotes from the martyrs themselves)

Luke 7:31-35

Too often when I read this passage I automatically write it off as dealing only with those of that time period. When Jesus says “men of this generation” I unconsciously think, “yeah, let them have it Lord.” Yet I realize that He is speaking to me as well.

Today He would probably say, “I can’t win with you guys or damned if I do and damned if I don’t.” However, Jesus refuses to be boxed in, categorized, and labeled. Basically, the liberals of that day were labeling John as “ultra-conservative” and the conservatives were labeling Jesus as a “flaming liberal.” John was too strict for those who wanted to have more license in their way of life. Jesus was too loose in His behavior for those who were teetotalers.

Yet, as Jesus states, the wisdom of both styles of behavior is acceptable and necessary. It is necessary not only for groups of people but individuals as well. There is a time when one should fast and a time when one should feast. Partaking in either to the exclusion of the other is dangerous and clinging to only one set of ideas can blind a person.

This is a perfect example of how I know that the Church is the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ. I can see this because generation after generation has treated the Church in much the same way. One side says the Church is too puritanical in the area of sexual relations while the other states that the Church has sexualized theology. One group shouts at the Church in anger because it will not “allow” women’s ordination while another group claims that none of the men currently ordained as priests are validly ordained. Yet the Church never wavers and never falters. It stands firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ. All the while, she continues to call all, liberal and conservative, moral and immoral, pagan and traditionalist, back to Her bosom. Wisdom is vindicated by her children and the Church her's, the saints!

FROM THE SAINTS
“One great piece of mischief has been done by the modern restriction of the word Temperance to the question of drink. It helps people to forget that you can be just as intemperate about lots of other things…Of course, it does not show on the outside so easily: bridge-mania or golf-mania do not make you fall down in the middle of the road. But God is not deceived by externals.” – C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

How to get better at prayer.
  1. Set a prayer appointment - Set a time on your calendar each day to meet and speak with God.
  2. Slowly increase your prayer time. - Don't jump in with an hour right from the get-go.  Build up your "tolerance" so to speak.
  3. Commit - to praying and slowly increasing your prayer time for 30 days.  Mark off the days on your calendar.  If you miss a day, jump right back in, don't give up.
  4. Pray - praying is talking to God, it's spending time with your attention focused on Him.  I enjoy spending time with my children regardless of their level of development.  God is the same way.  Spend time praying as best you can.  Use formal prayers if you want or simply speak in conversation.  Don't forget to listen
  5. Journal - Our newly revised 4 Simple Steps to Better Scripture Meditations: Guide, Workbook, and Journal walks you through 4 easy steps that will help you go deeper in your prayer life.  It includes 31 days of workbook and journal pages too!
  6. Read other good books about how to pray better - Prayer Primer, Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer, Time for God, The Spiritual Life: A Comprehensive Guide to Catholics Seeking Salvation.

Click here to read more from James M. Hahn - Blog - Books 
Check out his ongoing memoir about life with his special-needs daughter.

If you'd like to make a donation to help get this book about Catherine completed, our family would greatly appreciate that and you'll be the first to know when it's ready.

God bless you - Jim Hahn
* Contains affiliate links. No, that doesn't mean that the kids should leave the room. Rather, it means that if you click on a link, and if you purchase something, I may get some financial remuneration for that click and buy. All that means is that my kids will finally get to eat, just kidding but I may get something, just so you know...

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