“Let all nations know that Thou art God alone, and that Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and that we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture.”
— St. Clement
//Catholic Company//
Morning Offering – Let All Nations Know
Verse of the Day – Let Us Worship
Bible Stories for Toddlers: The Lost Sheep
Saddleback Kids – The Lost Sheep
Sermon Notes – Feed My Sheep
“Feed My Sheep”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
October 20 – 21, 2018
Scripture: Mark 10: 35-45
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 He replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you? 37 They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left. 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? 39 They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared. 41 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 42 Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. 43 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Servant leadership is a philosophy in which the main goal of the leader is not the acquisition of wealth and power; instead, it is to serve others. Christ is all powerful, but He leads His Church with great love by serving us and putting our welfare first and foremost as He did when He died on the cross so that we may have eternal life.
Christ asked Peter three times if he loved Him and three times He told Peter to feed His sheep. What does that mean? It means we are to love others as we love Him, to treat others as we would treat Him, and to serve others, because we see the face of Christ in them. Often, this requires great humility…and holiness. But, you cannot give what you do not have.
The Sisters of St. Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity radiate with joy, and people long to be near them…to have what they have. The Sisters serve the poorest of the poor and the most vile among us. How are they able to do this and maintain a joyous spirit? They get the power from Christ, and that same power is available to us if we seek it. ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.’ (Mark 7:7)
Leprosy is a disease that causes the flesh to rot…it’s smelly and it’s contagious. Saint Francis of Assisi had a fear and loathing of lepers before God led him to serve those afflicted with this horrible disease. After that, Francis expanded his ministry to help lepers by feeding them and caring for their wounds. Through God’s grace, Francis became their friend and served them with humility.
No matter our status, position, or wealth, we are called to serve others….even those who smell, who are rude, who are obnoxious, who are mentally ill…because they are the face of Christ. Like Saint Francis, we can kiss and care for their wounds. We can offer them comfort and compassion. We can lead them to Christ. In return, they teach us to love…they lift us up. We will receive far more from them than we could ever give them. Most likely, they will never say thank you or send us thank you cards. Christ didn’t get them and think of how many He helped. Were they at the foot of the cross? Sadly, no.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you feed His sheep? Will you look for the face of Christ in others and bring people to Him?