Sunday 08th may 2022
4th Sunday of Easter,
Psalter IV
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 32: 5-6
The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock may reach where the brave Shepherd htas gone before. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Acts 13:14,43-52
Paul and Barnabas carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats. When the meeting broke up many Jews and devout converts joined Paul and Barnabas, and in their talks with them Paul and Barnabas urged them to remain faithful to the grace God had given them. The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said: I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’ It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside. But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 99(100):1-3,5
R/ We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
- Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy.
- Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we belong to him, we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
- Indeed, how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age.
Second reading : Apocalypse 7:9, 14-17
I, John, saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. One of the elders said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and because they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb, they now stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his sanctuary; and the One who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. They will never hunger or thirst again; neither the sun nor scorching wind will ever plague them, because the Lamb who is at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.’
Gospel Acclamation : Jn10:14
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 10:27-30
Jesus said: ‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me. The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone, and no one can steal from the Father. The Father and I are one.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight in these paschal mysteries, so that the renewal constantly at work within us may be the cause of our unending joy. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon
The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
Look upon your flock, kind Shepherd, and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures, the sheep you have redeemed by the Precious Blood of your Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Meditation
The Good Shepherd is Jesus who knows the sheep, gives them Eternal Life, in whom they are never lost, and no one can steal them from Him. None can be lost if he or she accepts Jesus as the Shepherd. Safety and soundness are found only in Him. True happiness and holiness come from Him. We may betray and hurt him through sin, but He never abandons us because He abandoned everything to save us. The Good Shepherd never gives up on His sheep. Let us always remember this in our hearts as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday and World Day of Vocations. May Christ be the true Shepherd of our souls and activities. Amen.