The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me. JN 10:27
AMOS 9:11-15
My Soul's Beloved,
Your promises are true. Your Covenant is everlasting. Lord, I believe that in the end all those who are grafted into Your Body, through Baptism, no matter how far they have drifted from home, You will bring back. You are the Good Shepherd, and not a single sheep will be lost except those who are determined to be lost.
Lord God, we know that Baptism seals us in the love of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While many live godly lives and do not stain their souls with grave sin, and even if they do, they repent and are forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, many keep wandering aimlessly. They seek comfort in the wrong places and mistake a false sense of spiritual well-being for that which comes from the one true God. It is easier to live a bovine existence than to live a Christlike life conformed to the will of God in all things.
Thank You, Lord, for this hope that we have in You, that God hears all our prayers. In the end, You, who became man for our sake, were born, suffered, died, were buried, and rose again, will not abandon us to an eternal death. Too great a price was paid for our salvation. The Father sent You into the world not to condemn the world but to save it. In this is my hope. In this is my confidence. I believe, and because I believe, Your strong arm will save all those I love and pray for.
It is the Lord who speaks:
‘That day I will re-erect the tottering hut of David,
make good the gaps in it, restore its ruins
and rebuild it as it was in the days of old,
so that they can conquer the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that belonged to me.’
It is the Lord who speaks, and he will carry this out.
‘The days are coming now – it is the Lord who speaks –
when harvest will follow directly after ploughing,
the treading of grapes soon after sowing,
when the mountains will run with new wine
and the hills all flow with it.
I mean to restore the fortunes of my people Israel;
they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them,
plant vineyards and drink their wine,
dig gardens and eat their produce.
I will plant them in their own country,
never to be rooted up again
out of the land I have given them,
says the Lord, your God.’
PSALM 84(85): 9,11-14
The Lord speaks peace to his people.
I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.
The Lord speaks peace to his people.
MATTHEW 9:14-17
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