Your word is truth, O Lord:
consecrate us in the truth. JN 17:17
ACTS 20:28-38 ©
My Soul's Beloved,
If only the shepherds appointed as overseers to feed us, the members of the Church of God were as tender a father as St. Paul we would not be undergoing the spiritual crisis that we, Your Body, find ourselves in. Because of the indifference, the tepidity, giving in to creature comforts, the desire to people please, and a propensity for soft living by some in the hierarchy the Church is weakened.
Grant this grace O Lord to our shepherd, that after the example of St. Paul and many great Popes, Bishops, priests, and religious a sacrificial love for the people of God. The Church is being attacked on every side and her enemies are legion. We need strong leadership, constant vigilance, and constant care to keep the wolves at bay, by teaching and preaching sound doctrine, by sacrifice, and a willingness by our shepherds to die to themselves for the love of their flock.
This is prophetic from the lips of St. Paul: Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them.
If our shepherds are tender, compassionate, and filled with Your love and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit the sheep will grow in faith and in confidence under their vigilant care. We will then be able to face the attacks of the Enemy and with Your help vanquish him. May we, the faithful, stand shoulder to shoulder with our shepherd loving them, supporting them, praying for them, and always aware of Your Word that,“There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’
Give us leaders like St. Paul for whom we can have great affection and respect just like his.
When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him; what saddened them most was his saying they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.
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