Sunday May 8, 2022

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

 

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.

 

First Reading: Acts 13:14,43-52

From Perga the rest of them traveled on to Antioch in Pisidia.

When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to preach again the next Sabbath. As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism went along with Paul and Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick with what they’d started, this living in and by God’s grace.

When the next Sabbath came around, practically the whole city showed up to hear the Word of God. Some of the Jews, seeing the crowds, went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene.

But Paul and Barnabas didn’t back down. Standing their ground they said, “It was required that God’s Word be spoken first of all to you, the Jews. But seeing that you want no part of it—you’ve made it quite clear that you have no taste or inclination for eternal life—the door is open to all the outsiders. And we’re on our way through it, following orders, doing what God commanded when he said,

I’ve set you up
    as light to all nations.
You’ll proclaim salvation
    to the four winds and seven seas!”

When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God—they honored God’s Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region.

Some of the Jews convinced the most respected women and leading men of the town that their precious way of life was about to be destroyed. Alarmed, they turned on Paul and Barnabas and forced them to leave. Paul and Barnabas shrugged their shoulders and went on to the next town, Iconium, brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples.

 

Second Reading: Revelation 7:9,14b-17

I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages.

Just then one of the Elders addressed me: “Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?” Taken aback, I said, “O Sir, I have no idea—but you must know.”

Then he told me, “These are those who come from the great tribulation, and they’ve washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. That’s why they’re standing before God’s Throne. They serve him day and night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will pitch his tent there for them: no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes.”

 

Gospel: John 10:27-30

Jesus said,

My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind.”

 

Prayer
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. Amen.

 

Reflection:

8 May 2022
Jn 10:27-30

The Shepherd stands guarantee for his sheep.

The fourth Sunday of Easter, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, is the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations.” Each year on this Sunday, we reflect on the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who willingly sacrifices himself for the care of his flock.

A shepherd leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects, and protects his flock. In today’s Gospel, John presents Jesus as the fulfilment of the prophecies where Jesus presents himself as the true shepherd. John wants to help his community and us deepen our understanding of this biblical image.

This image of the Good Shepherd is to be understood in the light of the Old Testament, where God was the shepherd of Israel, and their kings were expected to be shepherds to the people. David was the great Shepherd-King, and the Jewish people awaited the coming of a king like David. John Introduces Jesus as that shepherd-king for whom Israel had been waiting for.

This explains the reasons for Jesus describing himself as the shepherd who gets killed for the life of his sheep. In today’s text, the emphasis is on the relationship between Jesus and the members of his flock. “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Jesus presents himself as a tough, strong and decisive shepherd who fights against the enemies to save his sheep. He takes the image of David, the shepherd who chased the lion and the bear that took away a sheep from his flock, knocked them down and snatched the prey from their mouths (1 Sam 17:34-35). Now, Jesus presents himself as the New Shepherd who is not afraid to fight to the point of giving his life for the life of the flock he loves (Jn 10:11).

Jesus guarantees that his sheep will never be lost and that no one will take them from his hand (v.28). Our salvation is guaranteed not because of the good behaviour of us, the sheep, but because of the initiative of the shepherd. This is the good news of Easter and that we must share with every person. Even to those who have done everything wrong in life, the shepherd guarantees his protection and care: our miseries, our shortcomings, our choices of death instead of life will not succeed in defeating the love of Christ.

Through today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches one of the central aspects of our vocation: Every one of us who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd. Hence, pastors, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials, etc., are all shepherds. We become good shepherds by loving those entrusted to us, praying for them, spending our time and talents for their welfare, and guarding them against physical and spiritual dangers.

 

Video available on Youtube: The Shepherd stands guarantee for his sheep.