Reflection for Fourth Sunday of Easter: May 8, 2022 Acts 13:14, 43-52: Notice that this passage recounts encounters that Paul and Barnabas had with their followers on two separate Sabbath days that are one week apart. We’re informed that many of Paul’s and Barnabas’s followers were Jews and that the two Apostles “urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.” Many Jewish prayers and liturgical practices could still be kept; but “remaining faithful to the grace of God,” also meant replacing some rules regarding ritual cleanness and dietary restrictions. It also meant embracing a more merciful lifestyle of service and comfort to the sick, the poor, the disabled and other marginalized groups. As we see, many welcomed this new “gentle shepherding,” on the first Sabbath described, while by the second Sabbath, others were jealous of the Apostles’ growing flock and saw the “New Way” as a threat to their power and social status. Ponder that the Gentiles, who had been previously shunned by the Jews among them were now overjoyed to find themselves welcomed into the new Jewish Christian flock! Psalm 100: “We are His people, the sheep of His flock.” As this psalm urges, take time to sing or pray, joyfully before the Lord this week. Sing and pray, thanking our God for shepherding us so lovingly and tenderly. Contemplate all the blessings of our lives, starting with our being fed with the Sacraments as a bounteous gift of our membership in the Church! What graces have been conferred on us via our Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, Confessions and especially at our receptions of the Eucharist! Ponder also Holy Orders and religious vows and the vows we make when we recite the Apostles Creed and other prayers. Great is our Good Shepherd’s mercy and generosity to us!
Rev 7:9, 14b-17: In John’s vision of the future, we contemplate the Heavenly flock, all of God’s people, gathered before Jesus, “the Lamb of God,” Who is the Shepherd of us all. When we’re told that these are the ones “who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” we’re being told that these are the people who have believed and accepted Jesus’ power to forgive sins and redeem people. These are the people who have accepted Jesus’ free offer of salvation and redemption. Will we be in that number? Let’s take advantage of opportunities to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. After all, we want to “be in that number… when the Saints go marching in!” We want to be saved, but to be saved, we must freely choose to obey the Shepherd and live the Christian life, honestly and faithfully.
John 10:27-30: Now, on Good Shepherd Sunday, come comforting words from the Good Shepherd; Jesus, Himself. Jesus promises to eternally protect His flock. Jesus proclaims with confidence that no one can steal their flock from the hands of Jesus and our Heavenly Father. We are safe, at last! Our God is all knowing and all powerful. We’re told that Jesus’ Sheep hear His voice. Jesus! Open our ears to hear You. Open our minds and souls and hearts to love You, understand You and to know You as You know us! Fill us with love, faith and hope and the other virtues we’ll need to obey You and to faithfully follow after You. Help us to fulfill Your Holy Will for us; both in this world and throughout eternity. Amen.
Lord, we are Your people; the sheep of your flock. Lead us to Heaven!