Sunday May 8, 2022

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

I Call Them by Their Name

The Voice of the Shepherd

 

Notes. 1. Remember that today is the World Day of Vocations. What is said of Jesus is applicable also to the shepherds who take his place. Not that they are Jesus himself: they are only humble signs of Jesus, who should by their life and actions show people the way to him.

 

Those who intend to have a special celebration for vocations this day or especially during the week that follows please see the Sacramentary and Lectionary for texts for Masses for vocations or the special Mass in this book.

 

Greeting (See Second Reading)

The Lamb on the throne will be our shepherd
and will lead us to springs of living water.
God will wipe away all tears from our eyes.
May this Lamb of God, Jesus our Lord,
be always with you. R/ And also with you.

 

Introduction by the Celebrant

I Call Them by Their Name

It is very reassuring to know that our guide or community leader knows us personally and calls us by our name. It makes us say or think: He knows me and I know him. This calls for deeper trust and loyalty and love. On the Sunday of the Good Shepherd Jesus himself reminds us how he knows us personally. At the same time the fact that we know him too, at least a bit, changes our whole life. For knowing him, we know God. We experience in him God’s goodness and care and close presence in everyday life. Would that we could also be near to one another and Jesus’ pastors and shepherds could be close to their people.

 

The Voice of the Shepherd

Who are the pastors, the shepherds, whom people trust and listen to? As if instinctively they entrust themselves to priests who do not preach themselves but the Lord Jesus and his Good News. They listen to and confide in priests who know them and who also take the time to listen to them and their problems and hopes. For in them they recognize something of Jesus, the Good Shepherd and model of all shepherds. Let us join our Good Shepherd in his thanks to the Father.

 

Penitential Act

“The sheep that belong to me
listen to my voice,” says our Good Shepherd.
Have we listened to him and followed him?
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you know us
and you call each of us by name.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you reassure us
that we will never be lost or deserted by you.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, the Father entrusted us to you
and you give us life that lasts for ever:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and never let sin separate us from you.
Forgive us, make us follow you all the way
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

 

Opening Prayer

Let us pray
that we may truly know and love the Lord Jesus
(pause)
Our loving God and Father,
you have let us experience
how much you care for us
by giving us Jesus as our Good Shepherd.
He knows us, for he carries us in his heart.
May we be ever close to him,
so that we may know him too,
hear his voice and follow him without reserve.
Like his love, may our care overflow
on the people you have placed on our way.
We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

First Reading (Acts 13:14,43-52): Pastors Are Taking Risks

Jesus’ Good News was first to be brought to the Jews, but it cannot be restricted to one group; it is destined for all. The conflict of Paul and Barnabas with the Jews becomes the occasion to preach directly to the pagans.

Reading 1: Acts 13:14, 43-52

Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga
and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.
Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism
followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them
and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.

On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered
to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the city,
stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them,
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5

R.(3c) We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R.We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R.We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.

 

Second Reading (Rev 7:9,14b-17): The Lamb Will Be their Shepherd

People from every race, people and culture will follow the Lamb as their Shepherd and be guided by him to eternal life.

Reading 2: Rev 7:9, 14b-17

I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

Then one of the elders said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.
For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

Alleluia Jn 10:14

Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel (Jn 10:27-30): Those Who Hear My Voice Follow Me

Jesus is our Good Shepherd; he knows us personally, and leads us to the fullness of life if we are willing to go his way.

Gospel: Jn 10:27-30

Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”

 

Intercessions

Let us pray to Jesus, the Lamb of God and our shepherd, that he may lead all to the springs of life. Let us say: R/ Our Lamb and Shepherd, unite us all.

–          Lord, you call an immense crowd from every nation, race and language. May they hear your voice and follow you. And so we pray: R/ Our Lamb and Shepherd, unite us all.

–          Lord, those who recognize you are few. Let none of them be lost and keep them faithful to you. And so we pray: R/ Our Lamb and Shepherd, unite us all.

–          Lord, many are still going through persecutions. May they keep serving you day and night and be united with you in their trials. And so we pray: R/ Our Lamb and Shepherd, unite us all.

–          Lord, too many suffer from hunger and many thirst for justice and truth. Let the earth yield its fruit and let your people work for justice. And so we pray: R/ Our Lamb and Shepherd, unite us all.

–          Lord, see the misery of those who suffer, wipe away all tears from their eyes and bring them the joy of your and our love. And so we pray: R/ Our Lamb and Shepherd, unite us all.

–          Lord, see the riches of heart of many who are willing to serve you and your people in ministries of love and service. Call them and let them lead your people. And so we pray: R/ Our Lamb and Shepherd, unite us all.

Lord Jesus, call us by our names and unify us as your one people, for you are our Shepherd and Lord for ever. R/ Amen.

 

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father who cares,
you set for us the table of life
and offer us the cup of joy
of Jesus, your Son and our Shepherd.
Let him make us more and more
your faithful people;
and let him help us to proclaim
by what we are and do
that his message of life and joy
is destined for everyone
everywhere in the world.
For he is our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.

 

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

We thank our Father for giving us his own Son as our Shepherd and guide. As Jesus offered himself for us, we offer ourselves with him, that others might live and be happy.

 

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

The Father has placed us in the care of Jesus.
With our Good Shepherd we pray
our prayer of filial trust: R/ Our Father…

 

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from our factions and division
and bring us together under the leadership
of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
Let us share in the peace
of his caring and forgiving love
and save us from all anxiety,
for we are sure that he will bring us
to the source of living water,

for he is our Shepherd and Savior Jesus Christ:

R/ For the kingdom…

 

Invitation to Communion

This is the Lamb on the throne
who leads us to the springs of life,
that we may never hunger or thirst again.
Happy are we to be invited
to the table of our Good Shepherd. R/ Lord, I am not worthy…

 

Prayer after Communion

Father, we have listened to the voice of your Son
speaking to us here in this Eucharist.
May we keep belonging to him
and following him wherever he leads us.
Let no fear or enticement ever overcome us
to snatch us away from your love.
As he has given us himself as the bread of life,
may we also give ourselves to one another.
Let our Good Shepherd lead us
to the fresh pastures of your eternal joy.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

Blessing

In this Eucharistic celebration
Christ has been with us as our Good Shepherd.
May he also stay with us in life
and guide us through his Holy Spirit.
May he make us shepherds to one another,
people who care, who support and uplift.
May we thus become to the world
a sign of God’s caring, faithful love,
with the blessing of almighty God
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

 

Let us go in the peace and the joy of the Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.

 

Commentary

Global Shepherds

Read: The Gospel is preached to the Jews, the Gentiles, and to the ends of the earth. John presents the grand finale: people from “ever nation, race, people, and tongue” are gathered in heaven before the Lamb-Shepherd. Jesus declares himself as the Good Shepherd who gives eternal life to his sheep.

Reflect: In the midst of acute shortage of vocations in a country, one provincial assumes charge and thus addresses his members in his inaugural homily: “Believe me. There is no shortage of vocations. There’s plenty. It is all a problem of distribution, not of numbers.” How true! God does raise up people to tend his sheep; but not always as, when, and where we want him to! If we care to look around, there are many youngsters willing to serve. Sadly, how many congregations have died out in some countries due to the sheer refusal to accept vocations from other regions of the world! What we need to do is to adjust our mental lenses, break down the boundaries of tribalistic thinking, and perceive the Church as one family without borders.

Pray: Pray for global readiness and global receptivity to shepherds after the heart of the Master.

Act: Talk to a youngster about discerning a shepherding vocation in the Church.

Reflection is taken from Bible Diary 2022;

written by Fr.Paulson Velyannoor, CMF