Fourth Sunday of Easter. Year A - Sunday, April 30, 2023 (EPISODE- 418)
Readings for Sunday, April 30, 2023 - Fourth Sunday of Easter. Year A
FIRST READING: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want"
SECOND READING: 1 Pet 2:20b-25
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 10:14). Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord. I know my sheep and mine know me.
GOSPEL: John 10:1-10
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1074985220 - BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 18, 2018: The icon of Christ as the Good Shepherd in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Giancarlo Pellegrini. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for Fourth Sunday of Easter. Year A - Sunday, April 30, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-4a-fourth-sunday-of-easter-a-ep-418 (EPISODE-418 )
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This Sunday is packed with lots of beautiful themes, It is often known as "Good Shepherd" Sunday, due to the wonderful image of the shepherd that flows through the psalm and the Gospel, and the other readings, Because of the theme of the shepherd, it is also traditionally the weekend we particularly pray for vocations to the priesthood, that the Lord will raise up shepherd after his own heart, to guide and lead his beloved people,
Jesus is our Good shepherd and he walks along with us along our whole life journey, He knows us by name, he leads us by safe paths, He cares about what happens to us, He is always interested to hear us tell him of our hopes, our fears, our disappointments and our failures, and he is there to reassure us and give us strength and to affirm to us that if we keep trusting in him, the love of God has the final word in our life, and that final word is the promise that we are beloved sons and daughters of God, forever ,
The gospel speaks of the image of the Sheepfold: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, Christ's offering of his whole self and even his life (down to the very last drop of his blood) is remembered by us at each and every Eucharist, In our Liturgy we constantly speak of this mysterious thing called the "Paschal Mystery", which is actually about the mystery of Jesus (who is the spotless Paschal lamb,- the Passover lamb-, who was sacrificed so that we might be saved), Through Jesus' life, teaching, ministry, and his suffering, death and Resurrection we are saved. In every Eucharistic prayer,(actually, throughout every Mass), this Paschal Mystery is recalled and remembered,
Christ warns us about false shepherds….. and …….I have to smile at a rather amusing, but all-too-true old Latin proverb that goes something like this:
"It is the role of a good shepherd to shear their flock, not to fleece them!!" (Latin proverb, adapted).
Sadly, the world has witnessed plenty of examples of bad leaders, who were motivated not for the good of others, but their own ambitions and ego.
Jesus gives an example of himself as a good shepherd, the perfect leader. He puts his people first, he knows them personally, and he is not in it for himself, and he literally "gives of himself completely" for our sakes. What a superb example and model for leadership/,/, Christ uses the image of the 'shepherd BEING the gate, ---- (there would not be a timber gate, but rather.. the shepherd themselves, would lie across the opening of the sheepfold and their body would act as a human gate, Nothing could pass by without disturbing the shepherd, who would risk life and limb to protect his sheep. The true leader puts themselves on the line. The good shepherd literally puts their body on the line, for those they care for. ,
It is interesting that the gospel today, says "the sheep know their master's voice and will not follow a stranger," Who would follow a stranger? but here is the modern problem,,, with our modern, secular world, and with the internet, and so many different types of media and communication, advertising, and so many competing values in the world, all telling us, 'pick me, pick me," I am GOOD for you, you need this, we are being bombarded with competing and contrasting values , and many different shepherds, We are constantly assailed with voices claiming to be our friends, to be the voice of our master, and offering easy solutions to complex problems…… sometimes telling us what we want to hear rather than what the gospel calls us to……… and so, we are tempted to follow those voices out into the wilderness.
We need to be alert to the fact that we need to really discern and to distinguish the voice of our lord, from the voice of false shepherds. It is not easy, but more necessary than ever.
We too need to reflect on the values of Jesus in the gospels, and the tradition and teachings of the church to help us recognize the true voice of the good shepherd,
At times it can be very difficult to recognise the voice of Jesus, as there are many who claim to speak in his name, A useful guide is to look at people's actions and priorities, We can listen to those whose lives reveal the qualities of Jesus - love, compassion, justice, self-sacrifice, - Surely, they are reflecting the good shepherd in our midst? - The big test of authenticity is likely to be this: The real shepherd is not acting to "feather their own nest," but acts in the best interest of the other, willing to give up things for others, not take advantage, not for their own gain or for their own pride, That is a dead giveaway for the fake shepherds,…… for, in them, it is self-satisfaction, self-justification, promotion of their own self-image and interests, There is almost always something in it for them at a very clear point, and something at the expense of others, of the community.
The gospel invites us to think of how we as a society discern leaders for civic and roles…. Perhaps it would be better if we put up a "help wanted" sign that each of us responds to, "Help Wanted: Shepherds – dangerous occupation, No personal gain, concern only for others, humble recompense, willing to sacrifice everything for others, willing to risk their lives,"
….Sounds a rather daunting job description!! I wonder how many takers we would get if this were the application advertisement for people in all kinds of leadership roles.
Thanks are to God, Jesus is our role model, and with Christ, (the Good shepherd's), example, mercy, teaching and grace, servant-leadership can bear good fruit.
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References:
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; some thoughts are taken from "Celebrating the Gospels," by Gaynell Cronin, also Preaching the Word resource; and commentary in St Paul's Sunday missal intro. Also, the picture of a shepherd as the "human gate," is from: https://thepreachersword.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/door-of-sheep.jpg
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1074985220 - BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 18, 2018: The icon of Christ as the Good Shepherd in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Giancarlo Pellegrini. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
Fourth Sunday of Easter. Year A (Sunday, April 30, 2023) (EPISODE- 418)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}}
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.//You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy//You are the head of the body, the Church: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want"
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 10:14). Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord. I know my sheep and mine know me.
Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Preface III of Easter
Euch Prayer II
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{Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}
Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: Subscribe to mailing list to keep up-to-date
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)
Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[Production - KER - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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