Sunday Reflections - Aid to the Sunday Liturgy
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| 01-May-2006 Dear Friend, Sometimes when left all alone to fight our battles, when things appear to fall apart, we are tempted to ask: "Does anybody care? Is there anybody who understands what's happening?" Yes, there is someone who cares, someone who understands, someone who is ready to stretch out a helping hand, the Good Shepherd. Today's word challenges us to know and believe in his caring love! Have a caring weekend! Fr. Jude Sunday
Reflections: Fourth Sunday of Easter Knowing and caring beyond duty! 07-May-2006 Readings: Acts 4:8-11; 1John 3: 1-2; John 10: 11-18; In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear the speech of Peter to the Sanhedrin after he and John heal, in the name of the risen Lord Jesus, a man who was lame from birth. They are questioned about how and why they have done this act of kindness. Peter does not take credit for the miracle, nor does he boast that he can perform such wondrous acts. What moved him to act on behalf of the cripple is his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who cares for such people. In imitation of the Lord who always cared for the sick and the lowly, Peter is also moved by the same risen Lord to reach out, touch, and heal the cripple. As believers should be moved not merely by human misery, but by our faith and belief that the Lord living in us, would want us to act in his stead. If our caring for others is based only on our feelings, it will not last long, only when Jesus and his presence in us moves us, will we
persevere in reaching out in His name. The second reading from John reminds us of the basic truth that gives identity and meaning to our lives: We are all God's children because he chooses to love us and call us into being as his children. We will never fully comprehend what it means to be a son or daughter of God. The more we believe the more we will understand what a great privilege it is to be called the beloved children of God. The more we know and love the God we believe in, the more we will strive to act and live as God's children. We become like the God we believe in. That old man knows the ShepherdA group of men sat around debating good and bad memories. As a result of the discussion, an impromptu contest began, to test their memories. One young man, with some artistic talent and training in voice production, recited Psalm 23, 'The Lord is my Shepherd'. His rendition was very effective, and it drew thunderous applause, so he had to recite the psalm a second and a third time. The second 'contestant' was difficult to hear every word as he, too, recited 'The Lord is my Shepherd'. When he was finished, there was total silence in the room. Something strange had happened. Unconsciously, many people felt a sense of inner
stirring, and a few began to whisper a quiet prayer. The young man, who recited the psalm first time around, stood up and explained the different reception to the two recitals of the same psalm. 'I know the Psalm,' he said, 'but it is obvious that old man knows the Shepherd.' Jack McArdle in 'And that's the Gospel truth'In today's gospel love is portrayed as mutual knowledge -the Father knowing the Son and the Son knowing the Father. Likewise, Christ the Good Shepherd knows his sheep and his sheep know him. Of course the knowledge talked of here is not mere intellectual knowing but
knowledge that comes from love and leads to care and concern for the other. The good shepherd has laid down his life so that all might hear his voice. Recognizing the MasterOne of the memories I have of the home of my birth was a dog we had, called Roxy. We lived on a fairly quiet road but, as the years went by, the number of cars increased. Irrespective of how many passed by, Roxy was quite indifferent. Then, suddenly, the ears were at full stretch, up he sprang, and he raced at full speed along the road. There was no sign of anything coming, but we all knew that my mother was on her way,
driving back from town, and was probably several hundred yards away. With all the cars, this is the sound that Roxy recognized from a distance. By the time he met the car, my mother had rolled down the window on the passenger side, slowed down slightly and, with the car still moving, Roxy sprang right into the front seat and accompanied her on the latter part of the journey. I'm sure most of us have known unique relationships between animals and humans. Jack McArdle in 'And that's the gospel truth'In the final part of this gospel Jesus invites those who are touched and saved by the
love of the Shepherd, to shepherd and care for others. "There are other sheep that are not of this fold and these I have to lead as well." Though he cares for his own, he does not discriminate and ultimately dies because he cares for all peoples. He also reminds his followers that whatever he suffered he did not endure out of a sense of obligation but because he wanted to do so out of love. Whenever we care and go out of the way for others we should not do so because of a sense of obligation but joyfully out of love. "I lay down my life for my sheep." He here vows that he is prepared in every way to fight and face danger on behalf of his friends
and kindred; confirming by the emphatic repetition of his intention that he is indeed the good shepherd. For they who abandon the sheep to the wolves are rightly named cowards and hirelings. But he is prepared to defend them, so that he does not falter even in the face of death, is with just reason called the good shepherd.......... We must keep in mind that Christ did not suffer death for us unwillingly; rather he seemed to walk towards it of his own will, though he could with ease have avoided suffering had he wished not to suffer. Therefore, in that he freely and of his own will suffered for our sakes, we behold the greatness of his love and goodness towards us." - St. Cyril of Alexandria, The Good Shepherd In the first book of Samuel, David, who volunteers to fight Goliath, describes to the king how he takes care of his sheep: "Your majesty, I take care of my father's sheep. Any time a lion or a bear carries off a lamb, I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. And if the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death. I have killed lions and bears, and I will do the same to this heathen Philistine." 1Sam 17:34-36 Does anyone care?The Broadway musical 1776 dealt with those critical days and weeks in
our history when our forefathers debated the Declaration of Independence. At one point in the debate, the fate of our great nation was like a pole standing in wet sand. It could fall either way: backwards into the past and continued domination by England, or forward into the future and newfound freedom. One night John Adams, one of the freedom fighters, was terribly worried about the outcome. Standing all alone in the darkness of Independence Hall, where the great debate was being held, he began to sing in words like these: "Is anyone out there? Does anyone care? Does anyone see what I see?" -These are the same words Jesus is singing in our darkened world. He is singing all alone, hoping greathearted people will hear him: "Is anyone out there? Does anyone care? Does anyone see what I see?" Mark Link in 'Decision'Having experienced the love of our Shepherd, may we care for others! Fr. Jude Botelho PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site www.netforlife.net Thank you. |
Fr. Jude Botelho
www.NetForLife.net
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