17-Apr-2018 Dear Friend, During this Easter season we are given many signs of the presence of the Risen Lord. We see his presence when he appears to the apostles after he has risen. We also see his presence in the community formed around the Risen Lord, and the witnessing of the apostles. Today we are given one more characteristic of the Risen Lord, his care for his sheep, and all who belong to his flock. As people of the Resurrection we are assured that He is our Good Shepherd. Do we care about others? Have a nurturing weekend! –Fr. Jude Sun. Refl. 4th Sunday of Easter “Jesus the Shepherd, Searches, and Saves us!” 22–Apr-2018Acts 4: 8-12; 1 John. 3: 1-2; John 10: 11-18; In today’s reading we see the power of the Risen Lord, which had transformed Peter who preaches eloquently and takes on the establishment. Peter was speaking to the elders, the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, a powerful opposition for an uneducated fisherman, yet he and the other apostles displayed courage as they confront them head on. “If we are being questioned and asked how this man was healed, let it be known that this man is standing in good health by the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Peter could have taken the credit for the miracle. Peter has learnt his lesson and knows that if he relies on himself he will fall, but his confidence is in the Lord who never fails. Peter moves from the immediate fact of the healing to the thing signified, namely the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Good ShepherdsIn El Salvador on March 24, 1980, an assassin killed Archbishop Oscar Romero with a single shot to the heart while he was saying Mass. Only a few minutes before, Archbishop Romero had finished a hope-filled homily in which he urged the people to serve one another. Since Archbishop Romero was demanding human rights for his people, he knew that his life was in danger. Still he persisted in speaking out against tyranny. He once told newspapermen that even if his enemies killed him, he would rise again among his people. Today, good shepherds who lay down their lives mean -husbands and wives who can’t do enough for each other to demonstrate their commitment to each other; parents who make countless sacrifices for the good of their children; teachers who spend untold hours instructing the weak students; doctors and nurses who work untiringly to show they care for their patients; employers who share profits with their workers; politicians who unselfishly promote the common good of their voters and parishioners who generously support their parish community.Albert Cylwicki in ‘His Word Resounds’ One of the most beautiful descriptions of God given by Jesus is contained in today’s gospel reading where he proclaims: “I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” Jesus was the visible sign of God’s constant care for his people. In our present day set-up the image of the shepherd may be alien to us but in Palestine the shepherd was a common figure in the countryside. The shepherd in Palestine led his flock, he did not drive them as shepherds elsewhere did. The shepherd literally lived with his flock, spent most of the day and night with them. Though there were hundreds of sheep belonging to different shepherds, the shepherd knew his own and his own sheep recognized his voice and followed him to the pastures. The good shepherd cared for the sheep to the point of death. He does not just surrender his life for his sheep but he gives his life willingly, as He said at the last supper. Knowing his sheepOne 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 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 was 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’ A Good ShepherdAfter a particularly brilliant concert, Beethoven was in the center of congratulating friends and admirers who praised his piano magic. One unusually enthusiastic woman exclaimed: “Oh, sir, if God had only given me the gift of genius!” “It is not genius, madam,” replied Beethoven. “Nor, magic. All you have to do is practice on your piano eight hours a day for forty years and you’ll be as good as I am.” We Christians have a leading role to play in redeeming the world, being porters of Jesus the Good Shepherd. That demands strenuous work, persistence and perseverance in doing good. Beethoven was able to perform great things because of his patience and perseverance. Any leadership implies that quality.Anthony Kolencherry in ‘Living the Word’ Finding the God of one’s lifeVincent van Gogh spent many years trying to find out what he wanted to do with his life. After much searching, he discovered that he wanted to be a painter. From that day on his life changed. It wasn’t that it suddenly became easy. The opposite would be nearer the truth. In a letter to his brother, Theo, he wrote: “I think it is a great blessing when people find their work. I often feel I am as rich as Croesus, not in money, however. I am rich because I have found in my work something to which I can devote myself, heart and soul, and which gives meaning and inspiration to my life. If at times I feel rising within me a desire for a life of ease, I go back fondly to a life of hardship, convinced that I learn more from it. This is not the road on which one perishes. On the contrary, this is a powerful stream that will bear me safely to port.” Now that he had found his work, he no longer doubted himself, and no matter how difficult his life was, the inward serenity, and the conviction of his own calling never deserted him.Flor McCarthy in ‘New Sunday & Holy Day Liturgies’ Believe in the God of miracles!"Mom, I need new shoes," Nicky announced as he burst through the door after school. "Miss Bell says it's dangerous to run in the gym with my toe sticking out." I looked down at my son's blue tennies. "You're right, Nicky. It's time for some new tennies, but you'll have to wait until our next pay check...." "But, Mother," Nicky protested, "I can't wear these shoes for gym anymore. Miss Bell said!" I launched into an elaborate discourse on budgeting principles. "So you see, Nicky," I concluded, "that's how Mommy and Daddy spend money. Tennis shoes are not in the budget this time; next time they will be." "Then I'll pray about my shoes," Nicky announced. "I'll tell God I need the money by tomorrow."....When he left for school the next morning, new tennis shoes were still uppermost on his mind. "Can we buy my shoes tonight? You'll get the money today, because I prayed about it." "We'll see, Nicky," I replied as I kissed him goodbye. There wasn't time to explain just then. But the need to explain didn't come; Nicky's answer came instead. "This is long overdue... sorry for the oversight," said the note I received in the mail that afternoon. The enclosed check, payment for an article I'd written long ago and forgotten, was more than enough to pay for Nicky's new shoes. After school, Nicky's blue eyes danced. "See, Mom, I told you it would come. Now can we buy my shoes?" Today Nicky wears new blue-and-gold tennis shoes – poignant reminders of a child's simple trust and of my need to continually relearn what faith is all about.Ruth Sentor The Voice of the shepherdA father was reading the paper and decided to share what he was reading with his teenage son. The article claimed that children today suffered from a lack of attention and which caused low educational achievements in school. Furthermore, the article said that children today are lazy, have little concentration and barely possess any listening skills at all. When he was finished the father asked, “Well son, what do you think about that study?” The boy half-heartedly lifted his head and said, “What was that again, Dad?”The voice of the Shepherd tells us who we are. Phillip Keller in his book, ‘A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,’ tells us that sheep are very fearful creatures. They simply won’t lie down unless they sense their shepherd is very near. They need to know that he’s present. We are like that. Jesus was right when he said we are like sheep without a shepherd. We are fearful when we don’t feel we belong. How sad. There are children who don’t know the voice of a caring parent, who never get called in or called home. What they need is someone to care, someone to call their name with love, someone to reach out and let them know they matter. No wonder there are so many children and youth that are listening to the voice of strangers.John Pichappilly in ‘Ignite your Spirit’ A Good Shepherd lays down his lifeSaint Maximilian Kolbe is the patron of families, drug addicts, prisoners, journalists and pro-life movement, and he is known for founding the Immaculate Movement and producing the Knight of the Immaculate magazine. During World War II, Saint Maximilian housed over 3000 Polish refugees at his monastery. He was eventually imprisoned and sent to Auschwitz, where he experienced constant beatings and hard labor. St. Maximilian died in the place of a man with young children, who was chosen by the guards for the firing squad. Saint Kolbe is considered a good shepherd. He laid down his life for his sheep. Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, a good time to pray for the good shepherds as well as the bad ones; and a good time to realize that the Good Shepherd still walks with us.John Pichappilly in ‘The Table of the Word’ May we discover the Risen Lord our God Shepherd always caring for us! Fr. Jude Botelho [email protected] 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. | | | | Net For Life | | |
