Gospel: Good Shepherd Sunday
Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter or what is known as the Good Shepherd Sunday. The Gospel reading is lifted from the account of St John. Jesus said: Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follows him, because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers. Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
Today is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and in the Gospel, Jesus likened himself to a shepherd and a gate. He told this to condemn what the pharisees do during that time. They only teach what is convenient to them and they are more focused on the outwardly obedience to the law. But Jesus told them that they are just like the rest who came before him. They tried to lead the sheep but nobody listened to them. Because they cannot recognize their voice.
But when Jesus came to preach, many Jews were drawn to him, people flock to be cured from blindness and sickness, many delight to the good news, and then they believed deeply in the goodness of God. His voice was heard, and the sheep followed without hesitation. Because a good shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures.
Finally, Jesus is the gate. It reiterates the fact that no one can enter the gate of salvation if not through Him. When the gatekeeper opened the doors for him, the sheep will only listen to his voice. Those who did not enter through Him will only rob and steal the flock, and they will only lead them to destruction.
Let us all pray for vocations to produce more priests and religious persons, so that the sheep will be shepherded into the right direction. And may God use them to communicate what He desires for us, and teach us to be more faithful to God's voice and follow His commandments with faith, hope, and no hesitation.
Amen.
x----x
The Gospel is brought to you by Papa John's.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follows him, because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers. Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
Today is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and in the Gospel, Jesus likened himself to a shepherd and a gate. He told this to condemn what the pharisees do during that time. They only teach what is convenient to them and they are more focused on the outwardly obedience to the law. But Jesus told them that they are just like the rest who came before him. They tried to lead the sheep but nobody listened to them. Because they cannot recognize their voice.
But when Jesus came to preach, many Jews were drawn to him, people flock to be cured from blindness and sickness, many delight to the good news, and then they believed deeply in the goodness of God. His voice was heard, and the sheep followed without hesitation. Because a good shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures.
Finally, Jesus is the gate. It reiterates the fact that no one can enter the gate of salvation if not through Him. When the gatekeeper opened the doors for him, the sheep will only listen to his voice. Those who did not enter through Him will only rob and steal the flock, and they will only lead them to destruction.
Let us all pray for vocations to produce more priests and religious persons, so that the sheep will be shepherded into the right direction. And may God use them to communicate what He desires for us, and teach us to be more faithful to God's voice and follow His commandments with faith, hope, and no hesitation.
Amen.
x----x
The Gospel is brought to you by Papa John's.
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