A Lesson from the Shepherd of Hermas

AS IN WINTER GREEN TREES CANNOT BE DISTINGUISHED FROM WITHERED, SO IN THIS WORLD NEITHER CAN THE JUST FROM THE UNJUST.

He showed me many trees having no leaves, but withered, as it seemed to me; for all were alike. And he said to me, "Do you see those trees?" "I see, sir," I replied, "that all are alike, and withered." He answered me, and said, "These trees which you see are those who dwell in this world." "Why, then, sir," I said, "are they withered, as it were, and alike?" "Because," he said, "neither are the righteous manifest in this life, nor sinners, but they are alike; for this life is a winter to the righteous, and they do not manifest themselves, because they dwell with sinners: for as in winter trees that have cast their leaves are alike, and it is not seen which are dead and which are living, so in this world neither do the righteous show themselves, nor sinners, but all are alike one to another."

The Shepherd of Hermas

ON FAITH IN GOD.

FIRST Of all, believe that there is one God who created and finished all things, and made all things out of nothing. He alone is able to contain the whole, but Himself cannot be contained. Have faith therefore in Him, and fear Him; and fearing Him, exercise self-control. Keep these commands, and you will cast away from you all wickedness, and put on the strength of righteousness, and live to God, if you keep this commandment.

Hosea exhorts the wise to repent

Hosea 14

Prophetic Call to Genuine Repentance

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for your sin has been your downfall!
Return to the Lord and repent!
Say to him: “Completely forgive our iniquity;
accept our penitential prayer,
that we may offer the praise of our lips as sacrificial bulls.
Assyria cannot save us;
we will not ride warhorses.
We will never again say, ‘Our gods’
to what our own hands have made.
For only you will show compassion to Orphan Israel!”

Divine Promise to Relent from Judgment and to Restore Blessings

“I will heal their waywardness
and love them freely,
for my anger will turn away from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily,
he will send down his roots like a cedar of Lebanon.
His young shoots will grow;
his splendor will be like an olive tree,
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
People will reside again in his shade;
they will plant and harvest grain in abundance.
They will blossom like a vine,
and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.
O Ephraim, I do not want to have anything to do with idols anymore!
I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a luxuriant cypress tree;
your fruitfulness comes from me!
Concluding Exhortation
Who is wise?
Let him discern these things!
Who is discerning?
Let him understand them!
For the ways of the Lord are right;
the godly walk in them,
but in them the rebellious stumble.

Quotes on Prayer

"Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness know Him. He reveals Himself to such people -- those who spend time in prayer. We see our face sometimes not in a mirror but in a river, but when there are waves in the river we are not able to see ourselves. When our lives are full of hurry and bustle we fail to see ourselves, but in a quiet place we see ourselves and we shall be entirely changed -- a new life. Then we shall not be ashamed. We shall know Him by living with Him -- and we must live in Him through a life of prayer."

"Prayer is to live in Him for others. We can't stop breathing in the air of the Holy Spirit, and by the Holy Spirit we are being prepared for the world to come -- for the Kingdom of God where we are going to spend eternity. We have not been created to live in this world forever but to get ready for our Heavenly Home."

One thing to be remembered......

Our lives are as fragile as glass, the one thing to be remembered of lovers and followers of Jesus, is that we have a common will with the inmost heart of the One whom we serve. May the one thing to be lived for, and died in, be knowlege of the heart of God. May we be remembered by those in History as those who carry out the purposes of our God in this world.

We are fragile whispers while here, but if we endure, we shall be approved by God in His Love.

Beatitudes

Blessed is the person who looks truthfully at the Word of God and carries it out.

Blessed is the man who will not let the Light of God leave his heart, for he is valiant in the eyes of God.

Blessed are they who endure hardship for the Gospel with determination for the have all the power of heaven and earth on their side.

Blessed are the poor in this world who trust God, because they have placed themselves in the hands of their faithful Creator and God's Kingdom is theirs.

Blessed are the mourners, because the heart of God is yours.

Blessed are those who fight for righteousness and peace in this world for their suffering is temporary and their glory is eternal.

Blessed are those who are holy in heart, for they see their neighbors in rags and love them (they shall see God).

Blessed are the firmly gentle ones, for they shall inherit the land.

Blessed are you who are hated and slandered because of your love of Jesus Christ, for Christ is truly yours.

Blessed are the alms givers of mercy for you shall be given God's mercy.