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Good Shepherd Sunday

17th Sunday of the Year

4th Sunday of Easter 2021, April 25, 2021

The Word, Source: John 10. 11 – 18 Jesus — The Good Shepherd

11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

12 The hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.

13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

4th-sunday-Easter-2021-Picture-2 Good Shepherd Sunday
Image from google.

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,

15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.This command I have received from my Father.

REFLECTION

It can be well assumed that Jesus was quite familiar with three ways of life, among others, in Galilee and Judea. There were fisherfolk and farmers and sheepherders. Each of these can be seen or heard about in one place or another in the Gospels. Of course, we recall well that the shepherds are the first to see the baby Jesus there in Bethlehem.

Our reading today and our subsequent prayer find Jesus portraying himself as a shepherd –
the Good Shepherd.
And different from the versions of farming and fishing – here he puts himself actively in the picture.

The image I have chosen above was found on Google on a site with a novena to the Good Shepherd.
What touched me deeply was that in the picture –
the hands and feet of the Shepherd still have the marks of the nails.

The reality, the cost of being our Good Shepherd.
We pray that we may be touched by this reality of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.

MY PRAYER

Quiet yourself in God’s presence and pray Psalm 23 slowly, over and over.

The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me.*

You set a table before me in front of my enemies;*
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

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Easter Sunday 2021

17th Sunday of the Year

The Empty Tomb — Peter and John

1 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 

2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

3 So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

4 They both ran,but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;

5 he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

6 When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths* there,

7 and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths
but rolled up in a separate placed

8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

9 For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

A REFLECTION

The Resurrection stories in the Gospels are all wonderful! Read and reread them this week. Here are two of my favorites – and a most beautiful Philippine tradition – read all the stories.

Easter-2021-pic1 Easter Sunday 2021
Risen Jesus with Mary at the tomb. John 20. 10 – 18
Easter-2021-pic2 Easter Sunday 2021
Risen Jesus joins two followers on the road to Emmaus and eat with them
Luke 24. 13 – 35
Easter-2021-pic3 Easter Sunday 2021
Risen Jesus appears to his Mother Mary
Salubong – Traditional Philippine celebration as the two statues carried in procession meet in the front of the church very early Easter morning.

(The first meditation for the Fourth Week of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius)

MY PRAYER

A time to be there at the tomb with the others – up to this point no one has experienced the risen Lord – they just see the empty tomb –
it was only later, after all had gone, as Mary Magdalene sat sobbing the Jesus showed himself to her. She was overjoyed – she grabbed him! I wonder what he felt, what she felt? GREAT JOY!

And now, my time to be with the Risen Jesus –
There are many Easter stories – today’s Gospel and two of my favorites above –

  • as much as possible, put yourself in a quiet disposition a quiet and comfortable place
  • know that God is with you and you wi
  • we ask for the grace of the Fourth Week of the Spiritual Exercises –

Father, give to us the joy and the peace that your Risen Son gave to his followers –

  • Imagine yourself there with the group discussing what happened to the body of Jesus
  • What would you hear? What would you say?
  • And if you stay behind with Mary –

Jesus, please give me a portion of that happiness that you gave to Mary

  • Imagine yourself at that table with Jesus and the two followers in Emmaus
  • It was their invitation “Stay with us . . . “ that brought Jesus to the table

Jesus, stay with me, stay with me

Lastly, consider how I can bring joy and peace – and blessings – to others

How do I accomplish this? By what I think, by what I say, and by what I do –

  • Jesus, by my faith that you are raised from the dead –
  • Give to me the grace to bring joy and peace and blessings to others –

Our mantra

Alleluia! Jesus is risen from the dead –
He is our life and resurrection! Alleluia!

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The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer

4th Sunday of the Year 2021 January 31, 2021

The  Word Source:  Mark 1.21-28

The Cure of   a Man Possessed by an Evil Spirit

21  Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;

24*  he cried out, “What have you to do with us,* Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

25   Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”

26   The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. and with a loud cry came out of him.

27   All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

28   His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

A REFLECTION

This Sunday’s gospel continues the beginning of Jesus public life –

Jesus is baptized at the river Jordan – three weeks ago; Jesus meets two disciples at the Jordan  – two weeks ago; Jesus calls Peter and Andrew and James and John to follow him – last week. Today – Jesus, with his disciples, exhibits his power as a teacher and his power over evil spirits.

How blessed we are that people remember the stories and wrote them down and so, have invited us to be present.

Presence and healing will be our prayer today –

MY  PRAYER

As always, take time to recall God’s presence in your life and at this moment. – Look at the picture, or close your eyes and ask for the grace to be present with the apostles and to be healed –Yes – to be healed  – not just to be present – of the evil within me – 

Holy One of God – drive out the evil within me – anger, resentment, jealousy, vengeance, laziness of spirit and body, total self -absorption –

Holy One of God – give to me a new spirit – give to me a spirit of love and service for my family and those who share my life –and others – especially those neglected and those in need –

Jesus, Holy One of God – be with me always