Year B
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this week's readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
Explore this week's readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.
Find out more about how we can mark this special day in our liturgy.
See our music recommendations for the liturgy.
Today’s Gospel offers a pastoral scene – but is the imagery of shepherds unfamiliar to many of us..?
Would Jesus today have said, “I am the Good Sat-Nav leading you to your final destination”?
His route is always the safest spiritually; he is very patient if we make mistakes (“turn around where possible”); and he would lovingly point out speed cameras and other hazards.
This metaphor of Good Shepherd is based on the relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep. I’m not sure what relationship you have with your Sat-Nav. Mine is called Gladys and we’re not always best friends.
The Good Shepherd is not like the hired man who runs away or doesn’t care.
This Good Shepherd says, “I know my own and they know me; they will listen to my voice; I will lay down my life for my sheep.”
How many Sat-navs would lay down their ‘lives’ for you? Do we realise how precious we are to this Shepherd..?
Where is he calling us to? Beyond the Valley of Darkness to those green meadows, restful waters, always listening for and to that voice. And trusting and following. Even when we’re scared.
Our primary vocation is that of our baptism. We’re being called into Love, to love and be loved perfectly.
Beyond that the path will take many routes – marriage, priesthood, consecrated life, etc.
There will also be our own particular vocational path, which is ours and no one else’s – no one else will be a priest like me (thank the Lord, they cry!); no-one else will be a husband, wife, quite like you.
Are we able ignore the voice of Gladys and the other “Sat-navs” and noises which clamour for our attention and want something from us?
So that we can listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, who only wants something for us, as He calls us to life eternal.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
CCC 754, 764, 2665: Christ the Shepherd and Gate
CCC 553, 857, 861, 881, 896, 1558, 1561, 1568, 1574: Pope and bishops as shepherds
CCC 874, 1120, 1465, 1536, 1548-1551, 1564, 2179, 2686: priests as shepherds
CCC 756: Christ the cornerstone
CCC 1, 104, 239, 1692, 1709, 2009, 2736: we are God’s children now
An act of kindness to a cripple...the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes...we are already the children of God...the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.... There are plenty of spring boards in today’s scriptures for us to contemplate.
One example might be the ministry of welcome. Do we actually make people feel welcome in our communities? Not just greeting them when they arrive but providing them with what they need to celebrate well. One might think about small acts of kindness, about how we welcome the children in our midst, about being present to others. It’s sometimes easy to forget that liturgy isn’t just about me getting grace but about the way the whole community helps each other on the long road towards the Kingdom of God.
As on all Sundays in the Easter season, the blessing and sprinkling of holy water is fittingly used today (see especially p. 1508 in the Missal). In the Eucharistic Prayer, Preface III or V of Easter (pp. 596 and 600) are recommended. Prayer over the People no. 11 (p. 723) would be a good choice before the final blessing.
An excellent setting of the Responsorial Psalm “The stone that the builders rejected” by Bernadette Farrell is worth seeking out.
Notes These hymns have been selected from various sources:
The stone which the builders rejected (L258)
All people that on earth do dwell (CFE22, L466, LHON121, TCH201)
Hail Redeemer, King divine (CFE239, L320, LHON310, TCH142)
Loving shepherd of they sheep (CFE475, L892, LHON466)
The Lord's my shepherd (CFE706, L806, LHON661, TCH266)
Key
CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone
L – Laudate
LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)
TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over-familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.
