Day 2 · September 11, 2002 - 2nd Day of Prayer

THE SHEPHERD “My dear daughters, you will do no good nor have the spirit of your vocation until you have the thoughts and affections of the Good Shepherd of whom you must be the living images in the midst of your flock.” St. Mary Euphrasia Conference, 6
***

 We have come to the final preparation for our chapter/assembly. Our theme depicted in our Logo ushers us in our desire to search our hearts on how to live our aspirations as a Province and as Lifebearers with the Poor.

The Shepherd theme means a great deal to us, a central theme for us. It is one of the most precious images in biblical spirituality, attractive and warm. It describes the behavior of God in taking care of humanity.

From Genesis to St. John’s Revelation, the image of the Shepherd runs through. Today let us rediscover familiar and favorite images tat have meant much to us. Let us open ourselves to the possibility of discovery.

From the Hebrew Scriptures-

A New Translation of Psalm 23

God is our Mother, we shall not want
 She brings us rest, peace and truth.
 For the sake of justice in the world
 She calls us forth to be liberators.
 
 When we walk through anguished streets
 Cluttered with lies and brokenness,
 We won’t be afraid
 because God is like us.
 
 She holds us to her heart and breasts.
 She comforts us. She cares for us to care for each other.
 She feeds us, loves us, heals us in the presence of the world.
 God is good to us. Our lives continue to overflow with her blessings.
 
 God has called us to be truth-tellers.
 We answer that call.
 Goodness and mercy go with us each day of our lives.
 We live in God’s heart forever.

"The Church asks you to continue your mission of reconciliation with the exquisite delicacy of the charity and compassion of your foundress, St. Mary Euphrasia."

A good shepherd? Now there’s a contradiction in terms! By the time of Jesus, shepherds had been classified by the rabbis as thieves, cheats and murderers. Shepherds also merited distrust because they grazed their sheep on other people’s property. They had no civil rights and were unable to practice their religion.

The words, actions and identity of Jesus as the Good Shepherd have a very real meaning in the social, economic, political and religious world of his day. Deeply Jewish by birth and socialization, he speaks as a Jew to other Jews. He addresses his message to the needs and the people of his times—that is, to a particular time in a specific human society. The message is contextualized.

(notes from sessions with Karl Gaspar, CSSR, July 29-31, 2002)

Journey: movement, paglalakbay, pagbibiyahe

means: jeepney, boat, plane, habal-habal, car

dynamics: bonding, togetherness, difficulty, inconvenience shared;

comfort, set apart from the poor

Integral Transformation: From: fragmentation, brokenness, woundedness, powerlessness

To: fullness, richness, meaningfulness, happiness

SEPT 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18