Thought for the Week

4th SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B
(Good Shepherd Sunday & World Day of Prayer for Vocations)

1st Reading: Acts 4:8-12
2nd Reading: 1 John 3:1-2
Gospel Reading John 10:11-18

Homily by Fr. Gavin Gomez

Today we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Easter, with the theme of the Good Shepherd and also, a World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This is appropriate for the image of the Good Shepherd, because the shepherding activity of God includes the call to vocations, whether it is a call to priesthood or consecrated life. The administration of the sacraments of the church and the guidance of God’s people on their faith’s journey are essential to the spiritual well-being of the faithful.

In baptism we are all called to holiness, which means that we should continually discern the Voice of God in our lives, practice our faith by receiving the sacraments, and, be faithful witnesses of Christ in our day-to-day living. If God’s Plan is to succeed, it must permeate successfully through our humanity, which means, that we should have an openness to the workings and promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Our Lord will use our minds, our hearts, our hands, our feet, our strengths and our weaknesses to bring about God’s purpose in others and in ourselves. So, God’s shepherding activity can be realised through us and in us.

For instance, can you remember a time in your life when a complete stranger had said something unexpectedly, that not only left a deep impression on you, but gave you an insight into your faith?

In God’s eyes we are not disposable creatures we are in fact intimately cherished and loved by God, individually! And, God’s Plan is to bring every human being into the Kingdom of Heaven, Eternal Life, Eternal Happiness with God, Whom we shall see with our own eyes.

This intimacy with humanity is clearly evident in the Son of God, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who emptied himself of all divinity and became man with free choice and human weaknesses, for our sakes. In other words, God entered into human history to shepherd his people as a human being, Jesus of Nazareth.

In his ministry, Jesus called the Apostles, who, having discerned the voice of the Good Shepherd, left everything and followed him. Also, there were many disciples whom the Good Shepherd touched through his words and deeds. Jesus, extended his hands to sinners and those on the fringes of society to bring them back into God’s Community.

The parable of the lost sheep reveals God’s intimate intention to bring those who have turned away from God back into the fold through God’s infinite love, mercy, and compassion.

In the brokenness of our humanity, Jesus revealed the Father in whom we are called to respond in a filial relationship as sons and daughters of God. In St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he says: the Father “ … chose us in Him before the foundation of the world … he destined us in love to be his sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ”.

St. Peter in the 1st reading concerning the healing of the paralytic, expresses with great confidence, that healing and wholeness comes through Jesus Christ.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd is the Keystone, he knows the Father and there is a oneness in their intimacy and this intimacy is extended to all peoples so that there will be oneness in our relationship with God. One Shepherd and One Flock.

In Jesus’ time a shepherd out in the fields would care for his sheep by leading them to good pasture. At night the shepherd would put the sheep into an enclosure and he would sleep at the entrance of the enclosure and in doing so would become the “gate”. This means that should there be any danger to the sheep, the shepherd would put his own life at risk first. If he is a good shepherd, he will not abandon his sheep under any circumstances.

Ultimately, it was the unique sacrifice of Jesus Christ himself for the salvation of all people that completed his identity as the Good Shepherd.

During his ministry, Jesus prayed to the Father to send more labourers into the harvest and we too, today, continue to pray to God for more vocations to priesthood and consecrated life.

Discernment to a call to priesthood or consecrated life is very difficult today, because the voice of the world speaks louder than the Voice of God, therefore, our prayers for vocations are invaluable. We should also pray for those who have discerned the call of God, but, are struggling with their decision to begin their vocation.

Pope Benedict XVI in his recent address on vocations, said, “… in order to answer the call of God and start on our journey, it is not necessary to be already perfect … weaknesses and human limits do not present obstacles, as long as they help us to make us more aware of the fact that we need the Redeeming Grace of Christ”

And so, as we continue to celebrate this Eucharist today, the real and active presence of Jesus Christ, let us continue to pray that God will send more vocations in priesthood and consecrated life into his vineyard.

7th May 2006

Previous Thoughts for the Week
30th April 2006
23rd April 2006