Corpus Christi Blog

Do You Have a Loved One Away from the Faith?

09-25-2016Weekly ReflectionFr. Chad King

A convicting message for all of us to reflect on, since we should all care for one another:

"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 lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them.

Ezekiel 34:1-6

(I encourage you to read all of chapter 34.)

On Pastors homily series (based on Ezekiel) from St. Augustine:

The straying sheep you have not recalled; the lost sheep you have not sought. In one way or another, we go on living between the hands of robbers and the teeth of raging wolves, and in light of these present dangers we ask your prayers. The sheep moreover are insolent. The shepherd seeks out the straying sheep, but because

they have wandered away and are lost they say that they are not ours. "Why do you want us? Why do you seek us?" they ask, as if their straying and being lost were not the very reason for our wanting them and seeking them out."If I am straying," he says, "if I am lost, why do you want me?" You are straying, that is why I wish to recall you. You have been lost, I wish to find you."But I wish to stray," he says: "I wish to be lost."

So you wish to stray and be lost? How much better that I do not also wish this. Certainly, I dare say, I am unwelcome. But I listen to the Apostle who says: Preach the word; insist upon it, welcome and unwelcome. Welcome to whom? Unwelcome to whom? By all means welcome to those who desire it; unwel- come to those who do not. However unwelcome, I dare to say: "You wish to stray, you wish to be lost; but I do not want this." For the One whom I fear does not wish this. And should I wish it, consider his words of reproach: The straying sheep you have not recalled; the lost sheep you have not sought. Shall I fear you rather than him? Remember, we must all present ourselves before the judgmentseat of Christ.

I shall recall the straying; I shall seek the lost. Whether they wish it or not, I shall do it. And should the brambles of the forests tear at me when I seek them, I shall force myself through all straits; I shall put down all hedges. So far as the God whom I fear grants me the strength, I shall search everywhere. I shall recall the straying; I shall seek after those on the verge of being lost. If you do not want me tosuffer, do not stray, do not become lost.

"Preach the word, persevere in this task, both when convenient and inconvenient; correct, reprove, summon to obedience, but do all with patience and sound doctrine."

2 Timothy 4:2

The Good Shepherd never gives up, so neither should we!

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