Pastor's Message

                         4th Sunday of Easter

                                  “This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my Life in order to take it up again.”    John 10:17

          The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; .....Even though I walk through the darkest valley I fear no evil for you are with me You have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

         This is a Prayer of a Soul at Peace! Confident in the Care of God; who is its Provider and Protector. It’s believed that most Psalms in the Bible were composed by David, Son of Jesse from Bethlehem. David was a shepherd later the most memorable King of Israel. The Life of Shepherd is lonely and quiet, and can be scarily as it could turn dangerous any time; as the shepherd defend his flock from wild animals. David in the book of Samuel claimed to have protected his flock against lions with his sling. David however trusted God as his protector. You we hear him tell Goliath; the Giant “You come to me with a sword and a spear but I come to you in the name of Lord, whose people you insult.” In the fields and a shepherd in loneliness and fear, he sings “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my Life.”

         Today in the Gospel Reading, Jesus proclaims himself, the Good Shepherd & Gate for the Sheep. Jesus is the authentic shepherd over and against all others who might have claimed to be Shepherds! This passage that we read today, comes directly after Jesus had cured the man born blind at the Pool of Siloam. The Scribes and the Pharisees; leaders of the Jews who turned to the temple each day to celebrate their loyalty to the one True God harassed this Man: One born blind now cured! They treated him with disdain and arrogance and threw him out of the Temple.

         Jesus witnessing this, was amazed at their hardness of heart and unwillingness to believe in him.  He claimed his place as the true mediator between humanity and God. He declared himself as life giving in comparison with those before him claiming to be shepherds; “These were thieves, robbers and strangers and theirs was to destroy and Scatter.”

         Jesus unlike them is one, who knowing the value of the sheep, lays his life for them; and in the Gospel reading today, he tells us, that this is why his Father loves him;

         “This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my Life in order to take it up again.”

          Jesus is able to give life because he is the Son of God. This Good News is supposed to be shared; no wonder then, Jesus calls upon every disciple to pray for vocations; “Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may sent laborers to his Harvest!

         As we pray for vocations today, let us pray that we may put our trust in Christ; the Good Shepherd.