Following the Voice ~ Fourth Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 13:14, 43-52

Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5

Rev 7:9, 14b-17

Jn 10:27-30

On this Sunday, John the Evangelist again speaks of Jesus as a good shepherd.  One who cares for his sheep and whose voice is recognized by the sheep he leads.  The sheep follow him because they know his voice and trust him...  The good shepherd rewards this trust by being watchful for danger and by taking care of his sheep; feeding them and searching for them when they wander off.  He will keep them safe...

Jesus tells us that we are to believe in him, to trust him and to follow him, for his voice speaks the words of eternal life.  He feeds us with his Body and Blood in Holy Communion and if we happen to wander off, Jesus searches for us, sends his Holy Spirit to guide us and to bring us home again.

In the First Reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas have become shepherds to the Gentiles of Antioch, who with much joy came to believe and trust the Good News that Paul and Barnabas taught.  They listened to the voice of these Apostles, and from them, the Good News spread through the whole region.

We can take consolation in the psalmist's words as he praises the Lord whom he trusts and whose kindness and faithfulness endures forever.  He acknowledges that "...the Lord is God; he made us, his we are, his people, the flock he tends."  We believe that too... and thank God for it.



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Breaking down the dividing walls ~ Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Jer 23:1-6

Ps 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

Eph 2:13-18

Mk 6:30-34

In Mark's Gospel, Jesus' heart was moved with pity for the people who had gathered in the hope of seeing and hearing him.  Even though Jesus and his apostles had tried to find a quiet and remote place to rest, the people had anticipated their destination and had reached the spot before they did.  How desperately the people must have desired those words of hope and peace that only Jesus could give.  They were like lost sheep in need of a shepherd.

These people could have been anyone.  Jews, Gentiles, Greek, outcasts, the poor, the rich.  No matter who they were, they had one thing in common:  they were looking for someone who could give them hope.  To reconcile them, to teach them, to heal them, to let them know that God loved them.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explains what Jesus did for the people of his time and is doing for us also.  Jesus realized that the divisions among peoples kept them at enmity with each other.  There could be no peace among peoples as long as they looked at each other as "other" with no connection with themselves.

It was through the cross that Jesus freed us all and brought us once more into a right relationship with God and our neighbor.  We live in this knowledge; and recognize that we are to continue spreading the Good News of our salvation.  We are brothers and sisters to each other and children of our Heavenly Father.  That means we are responsible for each other! Not that others become our burdens, but that we freely follow in Jesus' footsteps as shepherds to the lost and forsaken so that they too can live in hope as we do.


 ~ Image:  Shepherd with lamb              

Reflections on the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) ~ by Phyllis Booth

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:8-12

Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29

1 Jn 3:1-2

Jn 10:11-18

Today's first reading finds Peter explaining why the crippled man is cured.  The crowd still finds it hard to believe that Jesus Christ, the Nazorean, has been raised by God from the dead and by his name the cripple is healed.  Centuries later many people find this revelation hard to believe, though we believe many of today's schemes that will cause us to lose our health, wealth or life.  In today's time, we are fascinated by the Internet and other digital devices and we take chances to get rich, pay less for items, to meet people for friendship, romance or marriage or for a career change without seeing the person/product and still we can't believe in Jesus Christ and his love.

The Gospel of John tells that we are Children of God and God loves us as his own.  The world doesn't believe that we are children of God.  Is it because God is invisible to the human race?  He doesn't talk to us... we can't touch, smell or hear him?

Yet we believe in man's ability to think, create, improve inventions and even explore the universe and we are still searching for the one who can give life, restore life and give peace to the world.  John implies that when it is revealed to us, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

The Gospel Reading reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  A shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep (family and friends).  Jesus accepted the command from his Father to be the Good Shepherd for the world.  Jesus died so the world could be free of sin.  He was a servant shepherd.  He came into this world to be a servant, not a King.  During his ministry he taught the disciples how to serve and not be served.  As baptized Christians we are expected to live our baptism vows to love others as we love ourselves, to be a servant shepherd.

A servant shepherd will follow Jesus' example in the home, community and church/parish.

A servant shepherd lives his moral and Christian beliefs.

A servant shepherd takes an active interest in the welfare of his parish/church family and community.

A servant shepherd accepts cultural differences (diversity) and encourages others to do the same.

A servant shepherd preserves his/her health through healthy nutrition and exercise.

A servant shepherd strives to attain the highest spiritual education of his faith.

A servant shepherd's journey is not easy.  He accepts the toils and crosses of life that lead to everlasting life.with the Father.


 ~ Rescue of the Lost Lamb by Minerva Teichert