Pastor's Message

4th Sunday of Easter

“Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”  John 10.7

           Today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations and Catholic Communities and individuals are encouraged to pray that many, may respond to the call of Christ to be intimate witnesses to the Gospel.

           Prayer to God, the Father, for an increase of workers in his vineyard, is a request of Jesus himself; “Pray therefore, to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest!”  (Mt. 9:38)

           The Call to Prayer, is in line with the very nature of the Church, which has the Mission to evangelize from its founding. After Jesus had appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, we read in the Gospel last Sunday, he breathed unto his disciples and commanded; “Receive the Holy Spirit, as the Father has sent me so I send you.” We read of this commissioning in every Gospel, but it very explicit in St. Mathew’s Gospel 28:20, “All authority has been given to me, go and make disciples of all Nations!” Although this commissioning is directed to every disciple of Christ, whom we all are, it is the responsibility, in a special way to those called to offer their lives exclusively to evangelize and serve the people of God.

           In this 4th Sunday too, we celebrate Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the true Shepherd over and against all those, who claimed to be shepherds before him.

          Jesus unlike the shepherds of old, is one who knowing the value of the sheep, laid his life (by his own will) for them! He tells us that this is why God, the Father loves him, because he willingly gives up his life that we may live; “The Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will, and as I have power to lay it down, so I have to take it up again.”     Jn 10:17-18

          Jesus, declared that there was nothing life-giving of those who came before him claiming to be shepherds; particularly some religious leader in his time; “These are thieves, robbers and strangers.”

         Jesus is the true Shepherd and from him emanates life that fulfills the Sheep. We are the Sheep of his flock, and Jesus gives us life which flows from him, and because of him, we are able to give life to others.

         I imagine the many people, who give of themselves so that others may have life; Mothers, Fathers, husbands and wives, children, the religious, Christian workers and many people of good will who, knowingly give themselves up, that others may thrive!

        Blessed are these, disciples of Christ, who labor and in self-giving service, leading others to an experience of joy that makes them exult with Lord, with the Psalmist;

       “The Lord is My Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; He restores my Soul …”

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