Fourth Sunday of Easter
Intro: On Good Shepherd Sunday, we are called upon to reflect on our understanding of our personal vocation, to what God calls us to do for Him.
Readings: In Acts, Peter calls on his listeners to repent and be baptised. As many respond to his call, the infant Church begins to increase in numbers.
In his first Letter, Peter assures the Christian community that it will have to undergo the same persecution and opposition as its Master. He urges his readers to remain faithful in spite of that.
Acts 2: 14, 36-41;
1 Peter 2: 20-25;
John 10: 1-10;
In today's parlance, a gate-keeper is more than that. He's someone who controls access to important people or services, who gives permissions or has power over others whether it's a mother in the supermarket chocolate aisle; a secretary screening calls; an editor with a choice of stories; websites included or excluded. So gatekeepers can be powerful, influential and important.
In today's Gospel, Jesus initially describes Himself in similar terms - someone known as a gatekeeper, someone to be trusted. And when that parable isn't fully understood, He calls Himself the gate, acting to keep people safe, enabling them to be fed by giving access to pasture, leading life to the full.
Today, were faced with a whole host of people and organisations who would like to be gatekeepers in our lives - determining what we should or shouldn't know, deciding what we should or shouldn't buy, for whom we should vote; where we should go on holiday; what values we should live by; what goals we should accomplish.
Lots of competing voices, and that's just what Jesus warns us against - those seeking entry into our lives, but who, if we follow them, will ultimately deprive us of peace, happiness and even eternal life - spiritual hackers!.
He calls us to recognise His voice and follow where He leads, to listen carefully to it, not allowing it to be drowned
out by other voices but at the same time recognising that we may hear the voice in the most unlikely of situations - not just at Mass, but on our own when we read our New Testament prayerfully; when we listen to the voice of our conscience directing us away from evil towards good; when we're alert simply to the daily events of our lives.
That voice is one which always speaks with love, a voice which is always concerned for our best interest, a voice whose only desire is that we should "have life, and have it to the full." It's said that there's a vocations crisis in today's church. No! There's simply a response crisis. In a world in which everything is instantly obtainable or accessible (whether credit, goods or lifestyle) it's increasingly difficult to commit to a lifestyle which is completely different, sometimes demanding, and very often misunderstood. And exactly the same goes for married life as well!
Today, ask yourself: what can you do for God, His church, or those around you, rather than what they can do for you. In other words, how can I best serve God and my neighbour, and act like His gatekeeper. Only then shall I find my true vocation - whether it's to the married, single or priestly life. And we can only learn to recognise that voice through spending time with Him - in prayer, through the Sacraments, through His word in the Gospel.
But He also calls on us to follow His lead, and be good shepherds too - to care, to be trustworthy, to lay down our lives for others, to serve rather than to dominate, to give of our time and talents to help others fulfil themselves. In other words, he invites us to be like Himself - good shepherds, and trustworthy gatekeepers to and for each other!
Intercessions
Christ is the shepherd and guardian of our souls; He knows us and our world better that we do ourselves. With faith and trust, we gather our prayers to place them before His Father:-
1. For our holy father, Pope Francis. Guide him in his ministry as chief shepherd of the Church, and help him confirm us in our faith - Lord, hear us.
2. For our world. Lead all peoples along the path of justice and peace, so that there may be one fold and one shepherd - Lord, hear us.
3. For parents, teachers and priests whom You have placed over Your flock to care for it. May they remain faithful, understanding and compassionate to those entrusted to their care - Lord, hear us.
4. For all those experiencing a personal crisis in their chosen state of life. May Your Son, the Good Shepherd, guide them safely home to the light of Your presence - Lord, hear us.
5. For Eamon Coyle who has walked through the valley of death, and for Vincent McAllister, William Watson, Jim Byrne, Mary Dunese, John Ferguson, Niall, John & Elizabeth McMullan, whose anniversaies we call to mind. We entrust them to the One Who judges justly, so that they may have life, and have it to the full - Lord, hear us.
God our Father, keep us true to Your ways. Help us always to recognise and follow the voice of Your Son Who laid down His life so that we might find life.