Mary Sullivan

The Shepherd calls to His own sheep.

He calls to each one.

His sheep are sure to hear His voice.

But from strangers they will run.

 

He walks out ahead of them,

Ahead of the sheep He walks.
His Sheep are sure to follow Him.

To listen as He talks

 

Jesus came to bring us
an abundant life.
A life filled with glory,

A life not filled with strife.

 

Jesus is the gate,

We must each go through.

To find our way to heaven,
To find life anew.

 

Dear Jesus, You are our Shepherd.
May we always follow You.

Walk ahead of us, dear Jesus.
Guide us to what is true.

 

Lead us to peace and glory.
Protect us from all strife.
May we always listen to Your voice,

Guide us all to eternal life.

 

Two disciples were walking to Emmaus. No doubt with some vexation.

They talked of what had happened— they were lost in conversation.

Their Master had been scourged and beaten.  They must have pondered why.

They’d been hoping He’d redeem them.  But He’d just been crucified.

 

And that is when the Lord drew near.  Along with them He walked.

He went unrecognized by them.  Though for some time they talked.

But when He said the blessing—and when the bread was broken,

That is when their eyes could see, they knew the Lord had spoken.

 

The bread needed to be broken for them to see the light.

And then our good Lord Jesus, vanished from their sight.

Were not our hearts burning while He spoke to us on the way?

Christ opened the Scriptures to them as they walked along that day.

 

Jesus, may we find You in the breaking of the Bread.

May our hearts burn with love for You.  May we embrace all You’ve said.

May we know the truth of You, Who came and for us died,

May we see the source of our salvation—with eyes open wide.

 

May we find You in the Eucharist and receive You in Communion.

May Your Presence in the Sacred Host secure our peaceful union.

May each of those who wandered come to life though they seem dead.

Walk beside us all Lord Jesus. May all see You in the breaking of the bread.

(Luke 24:13-35)

Jesus was walking by the sea, that sea of Galilee.

He went up a mountain.  Him, great crowds came up to see.

They brought the lame.  They brought the blind.  And they brought the mute.

They brought those who were deformed, of this there’s no refute.

 

The crowds then did a humble thing, with no thought of defeat;

They placed the souls who suffered, at Christ’s holy feet.

All became amazed when they saw the blind could see,

The deformed were made whole.  Could this really be?

 

The lame now walked.  The mute began to speak,

This was all done by Jesus, who was so mild and so meek,

When great crowds laid the suffering, at our Lord’s blessed feet.

 

Now Jesus didn’t want to send the hungry crowds away,

Or all the souls whom He had healed on that miraculous day,

Christ told the crowd, upon the ground, they should take a seat.

For three long days they’d been there, now had nothing to eat.

 

He cared that on their way home, from hunger they’d collapse.

So many days had passed. So much time elapsed.

The disciples asked a question: and asked it out aloud:

“Where could we ever get enough bread to feed such a crowd?”

 

Christ’s heart was touched, the truth is that His heart was moved with pity.

This deserted place had no food; and with food, no close-by city.

Christ asked His disciples: How many loaves have you?

They said that they had seven loaves, and just a few fish too.

 

He took the loaves and fishes, and then with hope He spoke

Words of thanks to the Father, and the bread He broke.

He gave to the disciples, the loaves and the fish.

The disciples gave them to the crowd, satisfied, for food, their wish.

 

The disciples gathered fragments, a gift straight up from heaven.

Baskets left of fragments, they numbered up to seven.

Jesus, we come before You, our Lord, so merciful and meek,

We give to You our loved ones; humbly place them at your feet.

 

As you healed those in the crowd so very long ago.

We pray that on our loved ones, healing You might bestow.

Heal our loved ones of the wounds, over which they weep.

Only You can heal them Jesus, from wounds which go so deep.

 

Wounded they are blind, and deaf to Your ways.

Wounds have made it hard to follow You, for all their lifelong days.

It’s crippled them from righteous walking, made it tough to be converted.

They’re lacking food from heaven, like a barren land deserted.

 

Jesus, we give thanks, as You did, before You broke the bread.

We beg You raise our loved ones’ souls, to life from the dead.

Have mercy on us, Jesus, so great has been the fall.

We beg You, Christ, have mercy.  Have mercy on us all.

 

(Based on Matt. 15:29-37)

(Based on John 20:19-31)

They were gathered in the evening.

It was the first day of the week.

The situation seemed to the disciples

to be looking less than bleak.

The doors were locked.

Of the Jews, the disciples were in fear.

The fear was that the Jews

would soon be drawing near.

 

Then Jesus appeared abruptly.

He stood within their midst.

This must have been a sight to see—

a sight one could not miss.

He spoke to them, bringing peace.

He said, “Peace be with you.”

He showed the wounds in His hands,

the hole in His side too.

 

The disciples were rejoicing then!

This was so very good!

Their Lord had been put to death,

But before them He now stood!

Jesus came bringing peace,

and to say something new:

“As the Father has sent me….”

I am now sending you.

Christ breathed on them.

“Receive the Holy Spirit” He pronounced.
Then the power to retain and forgive sins

the Lord announced.

 

Now Thomas wasn’t there,

when the Lord, to them, appeared—

As the disciples were in hiding

behind locked doors in fear,

But they told Thomas all about it,

perhaps with joyful shouts.

Yet Thomas declared he’d not believe.

Not seeing, he could only doubt.

 

Thomas demanded a few things,

only then would he believe.

His faith was somewhat lacking.

He could not, the truth, receive.

His finger must go in the wounds

which nails had opened wide.

And he must put his finger

into the Lord’s wounded side.

One week later they were gathered.

Again, the door was locked.

When Jesus came back to them,

once more without a knock.

As before, He would appear,

there within their midst.

Wanting all to believe,

desiring no one resist.

 

Christ came once more by saying:

The same words: “Peace be with you.”

Now, what would doubting Thomas say?

Just what would doubting Thomas do?

Jesus invited Thomas to come close,

That he might see His hands.

And put his hand into His side;

that he might understand.

 

Our Lord exhorted Thomas:

“Do not be unbelieving but believe,”

That Christ had risen from the dead,
Thomas could now conceive.

He said “My Lord and My God.”
Now Thomas could believe.

 

The faith of Thomas had been wanting.

This cannot be ignored.

For certain there is a more blessed way

of walking with the Lord.

Did Thomas believe because he’d seen?

This, the question Jesus asked.

Those are blessed who have not seen,

yet to their belief hold fast.

 

Lord Jesus, as we cower,

with our worry and our fear,

Help us to know the truth

that You are ever near.

You brought peace to the disciples.

Bring peace to us today.

Give meaning to our faith,

that from our faith we’ll never stray.

Give to us believing hearts,

the gift of faithful intercession.

Grant forgiveness of our sins

as we go to confession.

We cannot see the path ahead,

know not where it will lead.

Let us walk by faith in You.

Lord, help us to believe.

And give this faith to all of those

who left and lost their way.

Give the truth to those so lost

in worldly lies today.

 

Go now to them in haste.

In their midst, dear Lord appear.

Let them know Your love for them,

that You are always near.

Let them see the nail marks,

to each one, open Your hands wide.

Let them put their hands

in the wound within Your side.

 

Open their eyes Jesus.

We beg You on bended knees.

Help the lost to find their way,

that all may at last believe.

A father had two sons, and not wanting to wait,

The younger son asked for his share of his father’s estate.

This son gathered his belongings, as if in liberation,

set off to a hill country to live a life of dissipation.

His entire share was squandered on a carefree spending spree,

There was nothing left. He’d spent everything, you see.

 

But then it seems the son had run out of any luck.

He found himself in dire need.  A famine now had struck.

The son had grown so hungry.  For him there was no bread.

He longed to eat from the pods by which the pigs were fed.

 

His father’s workers were well-fed, thought this son, the younger,

He himself was dying, dying now from hunger,

He planned to find his father, to him say something true:

Father, I have sinned against heaven… against you…

 

The desperate son by this point had no more pretenses.

He set out to his father’s house; he had come to his senses.

The son got up and back to his father he went.

He would return quite humbled.  He went home to repent.

 

The son was a long way off, when his father’s eyes caught sight,

Of his son returning home. The father ran with all his might.

He ran to his younger son, whom he had so dearly missed,

With compassion he embraced his son and gave his child a kiss.

 

Then the father sought to celebrate, his son who far-off wandered.

This son who left with his share, and his share then squandered.

He would slaughter the fat calf, for a great celebration.

The finest robe must be brought out—there was such jubilation!

 

The finest ring for his finger! Sandals upon his feet!

The father would celebrate with a fine and joyful feast.

This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;

This son of mine once lost is found.  To this we say Amen!

 

Dear Father up in heaven, we have daughters and have sons,

Who left home, left the truth, fled faith on the run;

We await their coming home to faith, to truth, to You.

It seems that sometimes praying is all that we can do.

 

Father help them now to yearn, for Christ’s most Sacred Host.

Help them to love the Gospel, to love the Holy Ghost.

Won’t You Father take from them their troubles of the day,

Let the fallen life they live collapse and then give way.

 

Let them know how we await with love for their return.

Send grace upon their wounded hearts, may Your love they not spurn.

Shower them with wisdom, may they pine for You and truth.

Give them true repentance for their wayward sinful youth.

 

Humbled, call them back to You, to them may You run.

May You soon be running to all our daughters and our sons.

No matter what they’ve squandered, no matter where they’ve roamed.

May our prodigals come back to You, may You welcome each one home.