Today is also Mother's Day. We include a special intention for mothers in the Prayers of the faithful.
Readings — Acts 13:14, 43-52; Ps.100:1-2, 3, 5; Rev. 7:9, 14-17; Jn. 10:27-30.
1. 1st Reading, Acts 13:14, 43-52 — In the 1st 12 verses of Chapter 14, the Antiochene Christian community, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, sends Barnabas and Saul as missionaries. They proclaim the word of God in Salamis where John assists them. They convert the proconsul of Paphos (vv. 1-12). From Paphos, they sail to Perga in Pamphylia where John leaves them to return to Jerusalem (v. 13).
2. They proceed to Antioch in Pisidia, where Paul proclaims the Gospel in the synagogue (vv. 14-42), and many are converted. But on the sabbath, synagogue officials contradict Paul's preaching. Yet Paul and Barnabas speak boldly, saying that since the Jews reject the good news of Jesus, they now turn to the Gentiles (vv. 43-47). The Gentiles are delighted and believe in God's word. But the Jews incite prominent men and women against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from the city. So the missionaries go to Iconium where the disciples are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit (vv. 48-52).
3. Resp. Ps. 100:1-2, 3-5 — A Psalm of Thanksgiving. "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness" (v.2). "Know that the Lord is God, he made us, we belong to him, we are his people, the flock he shepherds. Enter his gates with thanksgiving.... bless his name; good, indeed, is the Lord." His mercy and faithfulness endure forever (vv. 3-5).
4. 2nd Reading, Rev. 7:9, 14-17 — John has a vision of the elect receiving the seal of the living God to protect them from cataclysm (vv. 1-8). Then he has a second vision. Countless multitudes "from every nation, race, people and tongue" stand before the heavenly throne and before the Lamb. They wear white robes and hold palm branches (v. 9).
5. "These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (v. 14).
"For this reason, they stand before God's throne and worship him day and night in his temple." God will shelter them. They will not hunger nor thirst nor stricken by heat.
"For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to the springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (vv. 15-17).
6. Gospel, Jn. 10:27-30 — This episode takes place during the Feast the Dedication, a feast to celebrate the rededication of the altar and temple by the Maccabees in 164 BC. They had been desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
7. The Jews ask Jesus in the temple area, "If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly" (v. 24). Jesus answers that he has already told them but they do not believe, because they are not among his sheep (vv. 25-26).
"My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand" (vv. 27-29). "The Father and I are one" (v. 30).
8. Here is the clearest public confession of Christ as God in the Gospel of John. St. John Chrysostom comments: the power of Christ and the Father are the same. And if the same power, so is their nature. Their nature is divine. For this reason, the Jews try to stone him because, "You, a man, are making yourself God" (v. 33).
9. Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, the Liturgy of the Word is about Christ, the Shepherd (Gospel), and Christ, the Lamb (2nd Reading). The blood of the Lamb is the well-spring of grace, a sign of his self-sacrificing love and compassion. The Good Shepherd brings us, his flock of believers, to eternal life. The love of the Shepherd and the Lamb is the Good News we are to proclaim. Like Paul and Barnabas, our vocation is to be missionaries who proclaim the Gospel of salvation, the Good News of his love and mercy that endure forever.
10. Prayer — 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 us, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Today's Mass).
Halleluiah! Halleluiah!
Prayerful Easter Greetings, best wishes, God bless!