4th Sunday of Easter
Psalter: Week 4
Saint Anselme
White
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 has gone before. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Acts 4:8-12
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter said: ‘Rulers of the people, and elders! If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a cripple, and asking us how he was healed, then I am glad to tell you all, and would indeed be glad to tell the whole people of Israel, that it was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the one you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up perfectly healthy, here in your presence, today. This is the stone rejected by you the builders, but which has proved to be the keystone. For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
117(118):1,8-9,21-23,26,28-29
R/ The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men; it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
I will thank you for you have answered and you are my saviour. The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes.
Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes. We bless you from the house of the Lord; You are my God, I thank you. My God, I praise you. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love has no end.
Second reading: 1 John 3:1-2
Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are. Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us. My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.
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 10:11-18
Jesus said: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd. ‘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 it is in my power to lay it down, so it is in my power to take it up again; and this is the command I have been given by my Father.’
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
Jesus calls himself the good shepherd because there are bad shepherds. The unfaithful shepherd thinks only of himself and the money he will make. When he sees the wolf approaching, he abandons the sheep. The Good Shepherd lays down His life to save His sheep from the approaching wolf. To the Good shepherd, the sheep are his best friends and companions. He puts his sheep before himself. He works out of sacrificial love, preparing him to lay down his life for the sheep. Jesus is that good shepherd who so loved the sheep that he gave and continues giving his life for them. Jesus, the good shepherd, combines the qualities of tenderness toward his sheep and toughness toward the raging wolf. His job is to guard us and lead us to God. He doesn’t work for pay.