| We are Christians as well as leaders |
|---|
You have often learned that all our hope is in Christ that he is our true glory and our salvation. You are members of the flock of the Good Shepherd, who watches over Israel and nourishes his people. Yet there are shepherds who want to have the title of shepherd without wanting to fulfil a pastor’s duties; let us then recall what God says to his shepherds through the prophet. You must listen attentively; I must listen with fear and trembling.
The word of the Lord came to me and said: Son of
man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel and speak to the shepherds
of Israel. We just heard this reading a moment ago, my brothers,
and I have decided to speak to you on this passage. The Lord will help
me to speak the truth if I do not speak on my own authority. For if I
speak on my own authority, I will be a shepherd nourishing myself and
not the sheep. However, if my words are the Lord’s, then he is
nourishing you no matter who speaks. Thus says the Lord God:
Shepherds of Israel, who have been nourishing only themselves! Should
not the shepherds nourish the sheep? In other words, true shepherds
take care of their sheep, not themselves. This is the principle reason
why God condemns those shepherds: they took care of themselves rather
than their sheep. Who are they who nourish themselves? They are the
shepherds the Apostle described when he said: They all seek what is theirs and not what is Christ’s.
I must distinguish carefully between two aspects of
the role the Lord has given me, a role that demands a rigorous
accountability, a role based on the Lord’s greatness rather than on my
own merit. The first aspect is that I am a Christian; the second, that I
am a leader. I am a Christian for my own sake, whereas I am a leader
for your sake; the fact that I am a Christian is to my own advantage,
but I am a leader for your advantage.
Many persons come to God as Christians but not as
leaders. Perhaps they travel by an easier road and are less hindered
since they bear a lighter burden. In addition to the fact that I am a
Christian and must give God an account of my life, I as a leader must
give him an account of my stewardship as well.
To help the sick poor. We need your help all the time but especially now as the Malaria season has started. We have plenty of the Anti malaria medicine (Artemether and Lumefantrine tablets) for adults and children over 5 years of age but for the babies, we send them over to the small hospital nearby. We have arranged with the nurses at the hospital, to have them treat the young ones. Often times they need injections of the Anti malaria medicine or the pediatric suspension. They have given us a discounted rate for the laboratory test and
the medicine but we don't have money to cover the cost. I tried begging them to take the babies gratis but the owner of the hospital (a very nice German lady) said she couldn't do that since she has to buy the medicines and the test kits.
We don't treat the babies at Nazareth Hermitage as it can be risky in case of a reaction to the malaria medicine.
When we tell the mothers that they need to go to the hospital they usually tell us they have no money. If we have put aside money for food, the helpers here will always give up their main meal so we can use the money for the day to help the little ones. But that doesn't go far and then the same problem presents itself again. I have to tell the parents that we don't have the funds and they could try asking the nurses to help them....meds now, pay later! When they are leaving the hermitage I walk them to the gate and then watch as they turn to go back to their village or home.
Malaria can be a killer and it seems children are more susceptible than the adults. Won't you please help to save these little one?
You can send your donations to:
Please make checks payable to "Monastery of Christ in the Desert"
Memo reads: Hermitage sick poor
Address envelope to: Monastery of Christ in the Desert,
> St. Paul's Hermitage
> P.O. Box 270
> Abiquiu NM 87510
>
My name should not appear anywhere on your check.
The Monastery receives the donation and will send you an acknowledgement for tax purposes (should you need it).
Then your check will go to St. Pauls hermitage (located on the Monastery grounds) and finally the donation will be put into my bank account and the little ones will get the help they need.
IT'S NOT TO LATE
the medicine but we don't have money to cover the cost. I tried begging them to take the babies gratis but the owner of the hospital (a very nice German lady) said she couldn't do that since she has to buy the medicines and the test kits.
We don't treat the babies at Nazareth Hermitage as it can be risky in case of a reaction to the malaria medicine.
When we tell the mothers that they need to go to the hospital they usually tell us they have no money. If we have put aside money for food, the helpers here will always give up their main meal so we can use the money for the day to help the little ones. But that doesn't go far and then the same problem presents itself again. I have to tell the parents that we don't have the funds and they could try asking the nurses to help them....meds now, pay later! When they are leaving the hermitage I walk them to the gate and then watch as they turn to go back to their village or home.
Malaria can be a killer and it seems children are more susceptible than the adults. Won't you please help to save these little one?
You can send your donations to:
Please make checks payable to "Monastery of Christ in the Desert"
Memo reads: Hermitage sick poor
Address envelope to: Monastery of Christ in the Desert,
> St. Paul's Hermitage
> P.O. Box 270
> Abiquiu NM 87510
>
My name should not appear anywhere on your check.
The Monastery receives the donation and will send you an acknowledgement for tax purposes (should you need it).
Then your check will go to St. Pauls hermitage (located on the Monastery grounds) and finally the donation will be put into my bank account and the little ones will get the help they need.
PLEASE HELP US
HELP THEM!
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