A Shepherd's Voice

Bishop Joseph Strickland, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, on the Intersection of glory and humility

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Jn 15:1-8  – Jesus said to His disciples:“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in Me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Mt 9:32-38  – A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their s...

Bishop Joseph Strickland, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, on Intersections of Heaven and Earth

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  JN 20:24-29  –  Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in His Hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into His Side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disci...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  MT 8:23-27  – As Jesus got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but He was asleep. They came and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us!  We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then He got up, rebuked the winds...

Bishop Joseph Strickland, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, on Intersections of Heaven and Earth: The Incarnation

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Lk 24:13-35  – That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus Himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prev...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  MT 7:6, 12-14   – Jesus said to His disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad th...

Bishop Joseph Strickland, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas on The Intersection of Heaven and Earth, the vertical and the horizontal, where God meets man

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Mt 5:17-19   – Jesus said to His disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, who...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Mk 12:13-17  – Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare Him in His speech. They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are a truthful man and that You are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census ta...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Mk 10:32-45  – The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them what was going to happen to Him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Mk 10:28-31  – Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed You.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this p...

Bishop Joseph Strickland, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas on The Eighth Commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Jn 17:11b-19  – Lifting up His Eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in Your Name that You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are One. When I was with them I protected them in Your Name that You gave Me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Script...

Today’s Topics: 1) Gospel –  Jn 15:9-17   – Jesus said to His disciples: “As the Father loves Me, so I also love you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. “I have told you this so that My joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is My commandment: love one a...

Bishop Joseph Strickland on the Seventh Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Steal

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Jn 3:16-21  – God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Jn 3:7b-15  – Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can this happen?” J...

Bishop Joseph Strickland on the Sixth Commandment:  Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Mt 26:14-25  – One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand Him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approache...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel –  Jn 13:21-33, 36-38  –  Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom He meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded...