The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts. HEB 4:12
EZEKIEL 34:1-11
My Soul's Beloved,
It is so easy for us to get discouraged when we look at those in authority in the Church who have failed Your little ones miserably. They have caused scandal upon scandal and are called to account by the stern words You address to them. They have failed in their mission to feed Your flock. They have proved to be false shepherds and have abandoned the sheep to the wolves. The flock are scattered and for lack of good and faithful shepherds are now sick, weak, afraid, and lost. This would indeed prove tragic if we did not have You as our Good Shepherd. We have Your Word, O Eternal Word of the Father that You will never abandon those called by Your Name. We belong to You, we are the sheep of Your flock.
While some of the shepherds You appointed have failed and will be judged severely and punished, we take comfort in Your assurance that You will care for us and rescue us and You will keep us safe in Your heart.
‘“Well then, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. As I live, I swear it – it is the Lord who speaks – since my flock has been looted and for lack of a shepherd is now the prey of any wild animal, since my shepherds have stopped bothering about my flock, since my shepherds feed themselves rather than my flock, in view of all this, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. The Lord says this: I am going to call the shepherds to account. I am going to take my flock back from them and I shall not allow them to feed my flock. In this way the shepherds will stop feeding themselves. I shall rescue my sheep from their mouths; they will not prey on them any more.”
‘For the Lord says this: “I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view.”’
PSALM 22(23)
MATTHEW 20:1-16
My Soul's Beloved,
‘For the Lord says this: “I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view.”’
PSALM 22(23)
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.
You have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for ever and ever.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
My Soul's Beloved,
The sinner, the little ones, the lost, the forgotten, those whom the world despises, the forsaken, and those pushed to the margins and unseen are as precious to You as those who have been faithful all their lives. You have no favorites. You do not love by degrees. You love us with a love that goes beyond anything that we can ever experience or imagine. It matters nothing to You if we have spent our entire lives in sin if, at any hour in our lives we come before You with humble and contrite hearts and beg Your forgiveness. You will not reject the repentant sinner but welcome them gladly, as the father welcomed the prodigal son, and You will lavish on the sinner every grace, gift, and blessing. For You O Lord, are an awesome God.
Many of us are wicked, selfish, small-minded, petty, greedy, and vindictive. This is why we are jealous when we discover that You do not love by degrees. All receive generously from You whether we enter the banquet hall first or last. You give everyone a seat at Your table if we are dressed in the wedding garments. Thank You, Lord, for the hope we have in Your goodness, mercy, and Your amazing, astounding love that keeps no record of our sins.
He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’
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