Ten Guidelines for Good Sheep – Apr 27 – Homily – Fr Terrance
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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Apr 27, 2026, presenting Jesus as the Good Shepherd from John 10:11 and offering 10 guidelines for faithfully loving His messy Church despite scandals, including embracing reality, focusing on the good, trusting the Holy Spirit, and reforming oneself first.
Fr. Terrance's homily on John 10:11, where Jesus declares Himself the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, addresses those who love Jesus but reject His Church due to scandals, comparing them to schismatics like Luther and Lefebvre. He offers 10 guidelines for fidelity: 1) Embrace reality—the Church is Christ's messy bride (Luke 17:1; 1 Corinthians 11:19; Numbers 11:5-6). 2) Focus on the good (Philippians 4:8). 3) Trust the Holy Spirit in the Church's barque. 4) Acknowledge limits of understanding (Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 55:8-9). 5) Know the faith charitably (1 Corinthians 8:1-3, 14:1). 6) Avoid venomous media. 7) React slowly to news (Proverbs 14:17, 15:18). 8) Shun a critic's heart (Luke 18). 9) Keep holy company like St. Thérèse. 10) Reform yourself first (Matthew 7:3-5), as saints did. Love the sheepfold by becoming like Jesus and Mary.
USCCB Bible – Jesus the Good Shepherd – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?11
USCCB Bible – Scandals inevitably arise – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/17?1
USCCB Bible – Focus on good things – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/4?8
USCCB Bible – Remove your own beam – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7?3
CCC 796 – Church Christ's mystical bride – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/796.htm
CCC 85 – Magisterium interprets revelation – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/85.htm
CCC 823 – Church subsists Catholic Church – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/823.htm
CCC 2284 – Scandal leads to evil – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2284.htm
USCCB Bible – Scandals inevitably arise – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/17?1
USCCB Bible – Focus on good things – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/4?8
USCCB Bible – Remove your own beam – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7?3
CCC 796 – Church Christ's mystical bride – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/796.htm
CCC 85 – Magisterium interprets revelation – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/85.htm
CCC 823 – Church subsists Catholic Church – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/823.htm
CCC 2284 – Scandal leads to evil – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2284.htm
00:00 - Introduction: Jesus the Good Shepherd
00:41 - The Danger of Loving Jesus but Rejecting the Church
01:36 - Guideline 1: Embrace the Reality of a Messy Church
04:26 - Guideline 2: Focus on the Good, Not the Negative
06:08 - Guideline 3: Trust in the Holy Spirit
06:52 - Guideline 4: Acknowledge the Limits of Your Understanding
08:51 - Guideline 5: Know Your Faith and Practice Charity
10:16 - Guideline 6 & 7: Avoid Toxic Media and Hasty Reactions
11:55 - Guideline 8: Avoid the Heart of a Critic
13:14 - Guideline 9: Choose Your Company Wisely
14:29 - Guideline 10: Reform the Church by Reforming Yourself
16:12 - Conclusion: Loving the Shepherd and the Sheepfold
00:41 - The Danger of Loving Jesus but Rejecting the Church
01:36 - Guideline 1: Embrace the Reality of a Messy Church
04:26 - Guideline 2: Focus on the Good, Not the Negative
06:08 - Guideline 3: Trust in the Holy Spirit
06:52 - Guideline 4: Acknowledge the Limits of Your Understanding
08:51 - Guideline 5: Know Your Faith and Practice Charity
10:16 - Guideline 6 & 7: Avoid Toxic Media and Hasty Reactions
11:55 - Guideline 8: Avoid the Heart of a Critic
13:14 - Guideline 9: Choose Your Company Wisely
14:29 - Guideline 10: Reform the Church by Reforming Yourself
16:12 - Conclusion: Loving the Shepherd and the Sheepfold
Ave Maria!
Mass: Monday 4th Week of Easter - Wkdy
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042726.cfm
1st: Acts 11:1-18
Resp: Psalms 42:2-3, 43:3, 4
Gsp: John 10:11-18
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1795
Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx75TTAwn84
