14/08/2022
Today 14th August 2022
📌TOPIC: I KNOW THEM AND THEY FOLLOW ME
Minister: Fr Amuma Oganigwe
⛪HOLY MASS
First reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6. 8-10
Responsorial Psalms: Psalm 40:2-3. 18
Second reading: Hebrews 12:1-4
Gospel Acclamation: John 10:27
Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53
Reflecting theme: John 10:27
We are God’s sheep and He is our shepherd, a shepherd filled with love and compassion, a shepherd interested in our welfare, a shepherd who would go all out for his sheep, a shepherd who wouldn’t spare his life for his sheep.The heart of a good shepherd is filled with love and mercy and because it is filled with these, the sheep fall in love with him and know his voice, listening to what he has to say and following him.
The merciful heart of God the good shepherd is always drawn towards us, that is why in the book of Ezekiel 34:11-13 the word of God said “Behold I, myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land and feed them by the mountains of Israel.
God is love and will never forsake us even when we feel He has forsaken us. In Isaiah 49:14-16 the word of God said “But Zion said the lord has forsaken me and my lord has forgotten me and the lord replied, “Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea they may forget, yet I will not forget you, behold I have graven thee upon the palm of my hands, thy walls are continually before me.”
The loving assurance of His love and mercy is evermore, the steadfastness of the Lord never ceases and His mercy does not come to an end, they are new every morning. He can’t change because He is the good shepherd and not a hired one.There is no situation that you find yourself in, that God is not aware of, God is always interested in our welfare and progress, He said in the book of Isaiah 43:1-5 “But now thus saith the lord that created thee o Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called you by your name, you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with thee and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, for I am the lord thy God, the holy one of Israel, your savior, I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for you, Since you are precious in my sight, I have loved you, therefore I will give up men for you and people for your life.
God is always conscious of everything concerning us and this is found in the book of Isaiah 62:1-5 where He said “For the sake Zion I will not be silent, for the sake of Jerusalem, I will not grow weary, until her integrity shines out like the dawn and her salvation flames like a torch….. You are to be a crown of splendor in the hand of the lord and a princely diadem in the hand of your God.
The lord is the good shepherd who is interested in the upkeep of His sheep He is the shepherd who can lay down His life for His sheep because He is the true shepherd and not a paid laborer who is only interested in his wages.It is only true shepherd that will be concerned with the welfare of His flock like our lord, His interest is in our salvation, It is not His plan that we perish neither is it part of the bargain that we go astray. He has come that we may have life and in abundance, that we prosper even as our souls prosper, that we may be made whole.
Remember that He endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne, all the while we thought that His suffering was punishment sent by God, but because of our sins He was wounded, for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed.When next you feel that things are not going well for you, remember the lord is your shepherd and will not let you down.
WHAT TO DO TODAY Spend time praising God for His provision upon you and your family.Thank Him for the gift of waking up hale and hearty.Ask Him for the grace to trust in Him and hand everything into the hands of God.Ask Him for the grace of total dependence on Him. Happy Sunday and miraculous new week ahead. Fr Amuma prays for you 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾