Fourth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Prayer 

Loving Father,

Open our eyes to see your Son who rose from the dead and opened for us the bright promise of immortality. May we bear witness to his life, death, and resurrection in this Easter Season and throughout our lives. Grant this Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commentary

1st Reading: Acts 13:14, 43-52

As Saints Paul and Barnabas traveled to Antioch, they had hoped to win favor from the               Greek-speaking       Jews    in         their synagogues.

However, after receiving a poor reception, Paul said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it … we now turn to the Gentiles.”

Though Paul and Barnabas were expelled from that region, they had won a number of Gentile (non-Jewish) converts and “they were filled with joy.”

The Church has always held up St. Peter as the Apostle to the Jews and St. Paul as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Their statues stand tall in the square of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome as a reminder of how the Church became “an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.”

For our sake, the Gospel of Good News had to be proclaimed outside of their own home and region. It was meant for all humanity.

Question:

How is your faith shared inside and outside of your home?

2nd Reading: Revelation 7:9, 14-17

Our Second Reading follows the theme of the First, where John has a “vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.” John’s vision shows the fruit of the labors of the Apostles and disciples who led these souls to heaven. These Jews and Gentiles alike are gathered before the Lamb of God.

This theme is added to another theme for this particular Sunday. The Fourth Sunday of Easter is also called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” It is a time to reflect on the nature of Christ Jesus who is both the Lamb of God and Shepherd of lambs. He is the Lamb among lambs in that he shares our human nature. He is also Shepherd of His flock in that He is Divine.

All who hear the Gospel and are washed “in the blood of the Lamb” will enjoy the benefits as seen in the vision of John. Christians are washed in the blood of the Lamb through (1) martyrdom, (2) Baptism of “life-giving water,” and (3) even by desire (for those who die prematurely yet were preparing for Baptism).

Question:

Do you see others with you in heaven? Who do you see?

Gospel: John 10:27-30

Good Shepherd Sunday is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. As we heard in the 1st Reading, Paul and Barnabas went forth to proclaim the Gospel to every nation. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice.” However, the Shepherd’s voice cannot be heard without the mouth of the Church; especially from the lips of those who are called to the vocations of Consecrated Religious life, Priesthood, and Marriage.

While the title of a parish priest is “Pastor” or “Associate-Pastor,” the call to shepherd in the manner of Christ belongs to all in authority within our Church. Church authority includes — and begins with — Catholic parents with children. The proclamation of the Gospel begins at home. The importance of parents as shepherds cannot be stressed enough.

There is also a call to pray specifically for priestly and religious vocations within the Church. These kind of shepherds are sheep first and they must follow the Good Shepherd with everything they’ve got. The promises and vows of celibacy, obedience, and spiritual poverty run against the grain of society. Those who respond to all or any of these rules of life need our prayers.

Question:

How often do you pray for vocations within the Church?

This Week’s Task 

Be a P-E-S-T for vocations this week.

If you see a person in church who may have a vocation:

PRAY for him or her.

ENCOURAGE him or her to consider a vocation in the Church.

SUPPORT him or her if they should enter the seminary or convent.

THANK God for the person you encourage.

Group Prayer

All pray together:

O God, Father of all Mercies, send Your Graces upon those

You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor;

preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.

Open the hearts of Your children

that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a love and desire

to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your Son.

Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life

guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.

Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, humbly hear our prayers and grant Your Church’s needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The prayer continues with Psalm 100.

Psalm 

Response: We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

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.

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.

The LORD is good:

his kindness endures forever,

and his faithfulness, to all generations.

R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Conclude with an Our Father

Used with permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.