4th Sunday of Easter
Perhaps we don't realize.....
Shepherd is one who leads his flock safely to pasture and fresh water. Jesus is the only true shepherd. His way, and what he teaches, is to lay down his life out of love. This is the theme we are called to reflect on every Sunday during Paschal time. His sheep are those who have the courage to follow in his footsteps. This is the message of the Gospel. The second reading, tell us where Jesus, Shepherd and sacrificial lamb, leads his flock. We shall find there all the answers to all the puzzles of life. The first reading tells us that in order to follow Christ we must be prepared to endure hardship and persecution. This is what Paul and Barnabas teach us.
Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.” Some people are offended to hear themselves compared to sheep. Perhaps that’s because they don’t realize they need God’s constant care at all times and not just when they have problems. IF we want to belong to him, we do have to hear his voice. Though in today’s world it takes a conscious effort to do so. We can listen to him. IF not, we can easily lose touch with Him. Jesus does not want to lose any one of us. His desire is for us to be with him forever, in heaven, where there will be no more sadness or pain, where as our second reading tells us, he will wipe every tear from our eyes. One of the ways he leads us is through the Eucharist we are celebrating. He is with us as we gather in his name, he speaks to us in Scriptures, he feeds us with his own body and blood. Just as toddlers depend on their mother’s care, and their mother is always busy, sheep depend on the care of their shepherd, they may not be smart, but they are smart enough to know they need their shepherd and recognize his voice. May we too, be smart enough to know we need our Shepherd and to listen to his voice. A good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep. A wife asked her husband, “Would you take a bullet for me?” The husband replied “Taking things that belong to other people is called stealing and I’m no thief.”
Dear Mothers: Best wishes to you and your family at this special time of celebration. Thank you for all your love and dedication!
