Fourth Sunday of Easter
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word
http://www.usccb.org/bible/
Acts 13:14, 43-52
Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5
Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
John 10:27-30
A reflection on today's Sacred Scriptures:
Fourth
Sunday of Easter “C”
Every year,
the Fourth Sunday after Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday. This year the
emphasis is on the voice of Jesus. We can imagine how that
voice must have stirred the hearts of all who were disposed to listen to it. How
it must have moved people with its authority and its power to persuade!
The voice of Jesus was at times so loving, and at other times so challenging. It was that voice saying to Peter, "Feed my sheep" that still rang in his ears as he preached boldly to the Sanhedrin; it was that voice crying out, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" that echoed still in the heart of Paul as he and Barnabas preached in the synagogues of Perga and Antioch and Iconium. It was the voice of Jesus which drowned out the vicious lies of all those enemies of truth that tried to choke off the Good News so bravely proclaimed by Peter and Paul.
How gladly those great Apostles suffered persecution and even death "for the sake of the Name." No wonder we call Peter and Paul the great pillars of the early Church who inspired so many others not to fear contempt and bodily harm because the Holy Spirit was with them. Those who followed that voice would be rewarded with a glorious crown.
No wonder that literally millions of Christians have suffered for their faith down through the ages. Millions even today are deprived of human rights, imprisoned and killed just because they are loyal to that voice of the Good Shepherd. Racial hatred, abuse of women, child slavery, and exploitation of the poor, to name but a few, are the effects of strident, angry, and evil voices which constantly try to drown out the loving voice of the Good Shepherd who proclaims justice for the oppressed.
In Jesus' lifetime on earth as preacher and healer, He was known for His compassion and love. Shortly before His Passion and death, he stopped on his way to Jerusalem to weep over the city, crying out, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who were sent to it, How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood together under her wings, and you were not willing!"
Like a shepherd, Jesus leads His flock to eternal life. He called himself the door, the gate, the sheepfold itself. The shepherd knows each individual sheep by name, and each one of his flock are safe when they follow his call. "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they never perish."
Today, we hear the voice of Jesus in the voice of His vicar, Pope Francis. Over and over, He is urging us to bring the power of our love and mercy to all without exception, especially to the poor, the persecuted, and the powerless. In faith, may we listen ever more obediently to our Shepherd.
The voice of Jesus was at times so loving, and at other times so challenging. It was that voice saying to Peter, "Feed my sheep" that still rang in his ears as he preached boldly to the Sanhedrin; it was that voice crying out, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" that echoed still in the heart of Paul as he and Barnabas preached in the synagogues of Perga and Antioch and Iconium. It was the voice of Jesus which drowned out the vicious lies of all those enemies of truth that tried to choke off the Good News so bravely proclaimed by Peter and Paul.
How gladly those great Apostles suffered persecution and even death "for the sake of the Name." No wonder we call Peter and Paul the great pillars of the early Church who inspired so many others not to fear contempt and bodily harm because the Holy Spirit was with them. Those who followed that voice would be rewarded with a glorious crown.
No wonder that literally millions of Christians have suffered for their faith down through the ages. Millions even today are deprived of human rights, imprisoned and killed just because they are loyal to that voice of the Good Shepherd. Racial hatred, abuse of women, child slavery, and exploitation of the poor, to name but a few, are the effects of strident, angry, and evil voices which constantly try to drown out the loving voice of the Good Shepherd who proclaims justice for the oppressed.
In Jesus' lifetime on earth as preacher and healer, He was known for His compassion and love. Shortly before His Passion and death, he stopped on his way to Jerusalem to weep over the city, crying out, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who were sent to it, How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood together under her wings, and you were not willing!"
Like a shepherd, Jesus leads His flock to eternal life. He called himself the door, the gate, the sheepfold itself. The shepherd knows each individual sheep by name, and each one of his flock are safe when they follow his call. "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they never perish."
Today, we hear the voice of Jesus in the voice of His vicar, Pope Francis. Over and over, He is urging us to bring the power of our love and mercy to all without exception, especially to the poor, the persecuted, and the powerless. In faith, may we listen ever more obediently to our Shepherd.
|
||
|
||
|
No comments:
Post a Comment