Posted: 4/24/2015 10:41:41 PM EDT
Fourth Sunday of Easter 26 APRIL 2015 Lectionary: 50 First Reading ACTS 4:8-12 Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said: “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” 
Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his kindness endures forever. R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. Second Reading 1 JN 3:1-2 Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 
Alleluia JN 10:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me. R. Alleluia, alleluia. 
Gospel JN 10:11-18 Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” 
Overview of the Gospel: ^This Sunday’s gospel reading is closely tied to the episode of the healing of a blind man in the preceding chapter (John 9ff). Jesus’ opponents steadfastly refuse to believe he has performed this miracle, probably because it would mean accepting his authority. As a result, they remain blind guides to the people (John 9: 39-41; Matthew 15:12-14). ^In contrast to these leaders, Jesus presents himself as the Good Shepherd (this discourse actually starts at verse 10:1). The theme of God as a shepherd was very important in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 34; Genesis 48:15; 49:24; Micah 7:14; Psalm 23:1-4; 80:1, etc). King David, composer of Psalm 23, was the Old Testament proto-type of the shepherd (see 1 Sam 17:32-37), as was Moses and his successor, Joshua (Numbers 27:15-23). ^As the Good Shepherd, Jesus will watch over his own, protecting them and keeping them united as one flock attentive to only his own voice (verse 16). Ironically, immediately following this discourse (verses 20-21), Jesus’ opponents show a marked lack of unity among themselves. Questions: +In the 1st Reading, how many times is the “name” of Jesus invoked? What power is there in his name? +In the 2nd Reading, what is the basis of our great dignity in being Christians? Where did this great dignity come from? How and why is this sometimes hard to see in our lives? What, ultimately, is our destiny in Christ? +Who is Jesus speaking to in today’s Gospel Reading (John 9:40; 10:6-7)? How does the story in chapter 9 flow into Jesus discourse about the Good Shepherd in chapter 10? +What do the sheep, shepherd, sheepfold and stranger represent? Who are the “thieves and robbers” (Jeremiah 2:8; 10:21; 23:1-4; Ezekiel 34:2ff)? How is Jesus unlike them? +How do the sheep respond to the shepherd? How does this relate to the Pharisees’ difficulty in accepting Jesus (chapter 9; 10:19-39)? +Who are the other sheep Jesus must bring also (Ephesians 2:11-22)? What characterizes his flock? +What final claim does Jesus make (verses 17-18)? Why do his listeners respond as they do? How would you have responded? +What was the turning point for you in terms of hearing “God’s voice” and responding? How do you discern his voice from all the voices that vie for your attention? +How does it make you feel to think of God as caring for you as the Good Shepherd? (courtesy of Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics) Bible Study--4th Sunday of Easter--Cycle B (courtesy of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Picayune, MS) 
"He did what he said he would do: He gave his life for his sheep, and he gave his body and blood in the Sacrament to nourish with his flesh the sheep he had redeemed." ~St. Gregory |
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Back at you, anglefire!
GOD BLESS YOU! great pic there of our Blessed Lord leading the sheep. P.S. our large parish here is in a very congested suburban setting, with a lot of developed land--stores, shopping centers, and the like. Most farmers and ranchers have gotten rich by selling out to developers. BUT, we have just one remaining sheep farmer right out of town, a stubborn "hold-out." Good old Ronnie P. His family has been here since the 1800s. He has consistently refused to sell to developers and keeps his flocks. (back in the 1800s, Ohio was tops in the nation for wool production!) so when our new Parochial Minister, went to begin his homily for today about sheep and a shepherd, he asked the congregation: "Anyone here know anything about sheep?" hoping nobody would answer. Ronnie gently waved his hand up and softly spoke: "I raise 'em. Been doing it for 50 years." So Father, not knowing when to stop, asked Ronnie in front of the whole assembled 10:30 Mass: "Tell us what real sheep are like, Ronald." Ronnie in his usual and matter-of-fact manner honest blurted out: "FATHER, SHEEP ARE DUMB AS HELL!" we all cracked up! 
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Quoted: Back at you, anglefire! GOD BLESS YOU! great pic there of our Blessed Lord leading the sheep. P.S. our large parish here is in a very congested suburban setting, with a lot of developed land--stores, shopping centers, and the like. Most farmers and ranchers have gotten rich by selling out to developers. BUT, we have just one remaining sheep farmer right out of town, a stubborn "hold-out." Good old Ronnie P. His family has been here since the 1800s. He has consistently refused to sell to developers and keeps his flocks. (back in the 1800s, Ohio was tops in the nation for wool production!) so when our new Parochial Minister, went to begin his homily for today about sheep and a shepherd, he asked the congregation: "Anyone here know anything about sheep?" hoping nobody would answer. Ronnie gently waved his hand up and softly spoke: "I raise 'em. Been doing it for 50 years." So Father, not knowing when to stop, asked Ronnie in front of the whole assembled 10:30 Mass: "Tell us what real sheep are like, Ronald." Ronnie in his usual and matter-of-fact manner honest blurted out: "FATHER, SHEEP ARE DUMB AS HELL!" we all cracked up! LOL true. Sweet helpless animals. |