John 10:26-30, Hosea 8:7, Matthew 9-32-38

MY SHEEP  HEAR MY VOICE

John 10:26-30

26 The works I do in my Father’s name proclaim who I am, but you don’t believe because, as I said, you are not my sheep.

27 My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me 28 and I give them eternal life. They shall never perish and no one will ever steal them from me. 29 What the Father has given me is above everything else and no one can snatch it from the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

How true Beloved, all Your works proclaim to the world who You are.  Only one with the power of God could heal, raise to life and forgive sins as You did 2000 years ago and continue to do to this day.  I am grateful that through no merit of mine, but by sheer grace, I am Your sheep.  I know Your voice and I will follow You from here to eternity when I shall be united with You forever.

Hosea 8:7

 7 As they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. Like the erect ear of corn they will bear no grain and produce no flour, or if they do, foreigners will devour it.

Matthew 9:32-38

32 When they had just left, some peo­ple brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. 33 When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” (34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”)

• 35 Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. 36 When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were ha­rassed and helpless like sheep without a she­pherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. 38 Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.”

Beloved what amazing miracles You performed before many witnesses.  The blind had their sight restored to them, the lame walked, lepers were cured, the dead You brought back to life.  You cured every form of illness and disease of t hose who were brought to You, and yet t here were some Pharisees who said You did what You did with the help of demons.

If our minds are closed to the truth we will continue to walk in darkness.  If we acknowledge You to be who You say You are, then we have no option but to believe and say, "My Lord and my God."  And then we must live our lives obedient to Your will.

You went around preaching and curing every sickness and disease because Your heart was moved to pity.  Your heart continues to watch over us Lord.  The world is even more treacherous today and it is hard for many because they do not want to believe that You are the only answer to all the world's pain and illness.  We pray that You send laborers into Your vineyard to carry out Your work.

Sirach 43:26b, 28-30, Hosea 2:16, 21-22, Psalm 145:2-9, Matthew 9:18-26

Sirach 43:26b, 28-30, 

everything is held together by his word.

28 Where shall we find the strength to glorify him? For he is the Mighty One, greater than all his works.

29 The Lord is awesome and sovereignly great, and admirable in his power.

30 Let your praise exalt the Lord as best you can, he is greater than you could even express.

Honor him with all your strength and do not tire, for you can never praise him enough.

My beloved God holds and sustains all creation.  You who are the Word made flesh and who came to dwell among us to show us the way to the Father, You empower us with Your own Holy Spirit so we are made strong in the strength of the Lord.  

Hosea 2:16, 21-22, 
16 So I am going to allure her,
lead her once more into the desert,
where I can speak to her tenderly.
21 You will be my spouse forever,
betrothed in justice and integrity;
we will be united in love and tenderness.
22 I will espouse you in faithfulness and you will come to know Yahweh.

No earthly love can speak more sweetly, more lovingly and more tenderly than You do Beloved.  You make a covenant of love that will last forever.

Psalm 145:2-9

2 I will praise you day after day and exalt your name forever.

3 Great is the Lord, most worthy of praise; and his deeds are beyond mea­sure.

4 Parents commend your works to their children and tell them your feats.

5 They proclaim the splendor of your majesty and recall your wondrous works.

6 People will proclaim your mighty deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

7 They will celebrate your abundant kindness, and rejoice in singing of your justice.

8 Compassionate and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in love.

9 The Lord is good to everyone; his mercy embraces all his creation.

I sing aloud with the Psalmist to tell of Your goodness, Your majesty and Your awesome love.  

Matthew 9:18-26

18 While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples.

20 Then a woman who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 For she thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Cour­age, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment the woman was cured.

23 When Jesus arrived at the offi­cial’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said, 24 “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at him. 25 But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. 26 The news of this spread through the whole area.

You are always available and accessible to all who call on You.  Even when we grope in the darkness, You will helps us find You and You answer and give us all we need.We have to only put out a hand in silence and touch the edge of Your cloak and Your power overflows to heal.  Thank You.

Jeremiah 15:16, Jeremiah 16:19, Galatians 6:14, Psalm 66:20, Luke 10:2-4, 17-20

Jeremiah 15:16

I devoured Your words when they came.  They were my happiness and I felt full of joy when You made Your Name rest on me.

Jeremiah 16:19

Yahweh my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of distress.

Isaiah 66:10-14

10 “Rejoice for Jerusalem and be glad for  her, all you who love her. Be glad with her, rejoice with her, all you who were in grief over her, 11 that you may suck of the milk from her comforting breasts, that you may drink deeply from the abundance of her glory.”

12 For this is what Yahweh says: I will send her peace, overflowing like a river; and the nations’ wealth, rushing like a torrent towards her.

And you will be nursed and carried in her arms and fondled upon her lap.

13 As a son comforted by his mother, so will I comfort you. 14 At the sight of this, your heart will rejoice; like grass, your bones will flourish. For it shall be known that Yahweh’s hand is with his servant, but his fury is upon his enemy.

Galatians 6:14

14 For me, I do not wish to take pride in anything except in the cross of Christ Jesus our Lord. Through him the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.15 Let us no longer speak of the circumcised and of non-Jews, but of a new creation. 16Let those who live according to this rule receive peace and mercy: they are the Israel of God! 17 Let no one trouble me any longer: for my part, I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.

18 May the grace of Christ Je­sus our Lord be with your spirit brothers and sisters. Amen.

Psalm 66:20

20 May God be blessed!

He has not rejected my prayer;

nor withheld his love from me.

Luke 10:2-4, 17-20

. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. 3 Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.

• 17 The seventy-two disciples returned full of joy. They said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we called on your name.” 18 Then Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 You see, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the Enemy, so that nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the evil spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.”

In all three readings of the day You speak of the Church You have established on earth.  In Isaiah when You speak of the blessings the comfort and joy that shall flow from Jerusalem, it is an image of the New Jerusalem.  St. Paul reminds us that nothing is more important that following You my Lord and the  Cross.  The world is well lost for those who embrace You.  Why should we boast in Your Cross Beloved?  Because through it You have won for us the crown of eternal life.  Without Your passion, death and glorious resurrection, we would have no hope.  Thank You for the hope we have because of You.

If we choose to put all our faith and trust in You, nothing will be lacking, for You will provide for all our needs.  When we surrender all to You Beloved, You in turn give us all we need.  We will lack nothing. 

Here You demonstrate how Satan is powerless before Your Holy Name.  Let us not be afraid but step out boldly in faith for no evil can touch those who belong to Your Kingdom. Those whose names You've written in the Book of Life.

Judges 6:34, Ephesians 2:19-22, John 20:24-29

Judges 6:34

Then the Spirit of Yahweh clothed Gideon with strength.

Beloved, today marks 3 months since You called Sandy home to Yourself. I remember reading this verse in the last weeks of her illness and I began to pray, "The Spirit of Jesus clothes Sandy with strength." I asked Pam to pray this verse too.  I imagined You covering Sandy with strength  You  healed her body.  Yet, this was not Your plan.  But now this prayer is true, for Sandy is clothed in Your own perfection, health, strength and beauty.  You did answer our prayers my Lord. She offered all her terrible suffering in expiation for her sins and for the conversion of each of us whom she loved.  In heaven we will see how great her reward is.

The tears still flow Beloved,we miss her but on the heels of this sorrow is the joyful certainty that she is where there is no more grief, no tear dims her eyes, no more pain, only the wonder and immeasurable joy of being in Your adorable Presence.  

The Spirit of God clothes Sandy in bridal attire and she rejoices in Christ who is her Lord, God, King and Spouse.  Her gaze is raised and locked in the gaze of One who is all love.  Jesus Christ Himself is her reward.  Where our Sandy is now, we hope to be someday - safe in the arms of Jesus.

Ephesians 2:19-22

19 Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house20 whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

We know this now by faith, a time will come when like Sandy we will know in truth when we too behold the beatific vision.

John  20:24-29

We know this now by faith, a time will become when like Sandy, our faith will be rewarded and we will behold You face to face.

24 Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer.”

28 Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.” 29 Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe.”

Beloved, I love this Gospel passage.  Thomas was not going to believe so easily.  He had to see for himself the marks of the crucifixion.  Verse 26 says, "that despite the locked doors, You came into their midst.  May my prayers for so many open the locked doors to enable You to enter.

Sandy's faith is rewarded and she is now counted among the blesses.  She now beholds with awe what she believed.  With her I pray, "My Lord and my God."

Sirach 32:13-14, Sirach 33:11 & 13, Psalm 19:8-11, Matthew 9:1-8

Sirach 32:13-14
Sirach 33:11 & 13

13 And thank your Creator for the enjoyment of all good things.

14 Whoever fears the Lord will ac­cept his cor­rection, and those who rise at dawn will win his favor.

13 As clay in the hand of the potter to be molded as he pleases, so are all in the hands of the Creator to be dealt with as he sees fit.

14 Good is the opposite of evil, and life, of death, and the sinner is the opposite of the upright. 


Eternal Word, my Beloved, thank You for all that You say to me today in Proverbs 32:13-14 and Proverbs 33:11 & 13.


"M--- come to Me always, run to Me.  Who can help you but I?  Who can heal, save I?  Who can love you as tenderly as I do?"


Psalm 19:8-11

8 The law of the Lord is perfect:

it gives life to the soul.

The word of the Lord is trustworthy:

it gives wisdom to the simple.

9 The precepts of the Lord are right:

they give joy to the heart.

The commandments of the Lord are clear:

they enlighten the eyes.

10 The fear of the Lord is pure,

it endures forever;

the judgments of the Lord are true,

all of them just and right.

11 They are more precious than gold –

pure gold of a jeweller;

they are much sweeter than honey

which drops from the honeycomb.

Beloved, how beautiful are the verses of the Psalmist today. You the Word are holy and perfect and You delight as nothing and no one can.


Matthew 9:1-8

• 1 Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown. 2 Here they brought a paralyzed man to him, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, “Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.”

3 Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, “This man insults God.” 4 Jesus was aware of what they were thinking, and said, “Why have you such evil thoughts? 5 Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He then said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home.” 7 The man got up, and went home.

8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

You performed this miracle my Lord and You gave a three-fold answer; one to the friends of the paralytic, two to the paralytic himself and three to the Pharisees.  

The faith of the friends was rewarded through the healing.

The sins of the paralytic were forgiven.

To the Pharisees You demonstrate that You  have the power to heal both body and soul.  A power that only God possesses..