All Souls Saturday; the Holy Priest-Martyr Patrick, Bishop of Prussa, and Those with Him (361- 63)
Read
Acts 28:1-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
John 21:15-25; John 5:24-30
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
For John the Theologian, Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. He is the One who “lays down his life for His sheep (Jn 10:11), knows His own and is known by His own (see 10:14). He calls his sheep and they listen to his voice (see 10:3). In the Church a pastor is called to do the same: to know his own and be prepared to give his life for them. Every believing person will follow the voice of such a pastor, because in him they will be able to find an image of Christ Himself.
To follow a good shepherd means to support him in his varied works, morally, in prayer, and yes, financially. A good shepherd ensures that the members of his flock are growing in their knowledge of the faith, are gathering together in joy for prayer, are helping neighbors in need. But the Church cannot fulfill her mission without some financial foundation. We understand this. Construction, maintenance, electricity, heating, chalices, books, charitable works, all these things cost something. And if we consider the missionary activity of our Church as a whole, which is the purpose of Mission Days, it is important that each and every parish look beyond itself and reflected on how it might support His Beatitude Sviatoslav and their local Bishops, so that the Word of God might reach those, who have yet to hear it, and thus that Christ’s flock might grow.