Christ the Good Shepherd, Murillo (painted c. 1660)

Readings

New American Bible (Philippines, USA)

Jerusalem Bible (Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, Scotland)

Gospel (John 10:27-30)

Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”

+++

Voice of the Good Shepherd

Biblical Reflection for 4th Sunday of Easter C

By Father Thomas Rosica, CSB

TORONTO, APRIL 20, 2010 (Zenit.org).- As we move away from the day of Christ's resurrection, the Sunday Scripture readings for the Easter Season help to deepen our understanding of what happened to Jesus and to the Church through his triumph over death. On the Second Sunday of Easter, we looked carefully at the wounds of Christ and renewed friendship with him at table in a locked upper room.

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we encounter the Good Shepherd who is really the beautiful or noble shepherd who knows his flock intimately. "Good Shepherd Sunday" is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations in the Church. In all three liturgical cycles, the Fourth Sunday of Easter presents a passage from John's Gospel about the Good Shepherd . . .

. . . I cannot help but call to mind the profound teaching on the Good Shepherd that was offered to us by Benedict XVI during the Mass of inauguration of his Petrine Ministry five years ago, on Sunday, April 24, 2005, at the Vatican. In his very first homily as the Successor of Peter, Benedict XVI said: "One of the basic characteristics of a shepherd must be to love the people entrusted to him, even as he loves Christ Whom he serves. 'Feed my sheep,' says Christ to Peter, and now, at this moment, He says it to me as well. Feeding means loving, and loving also means being ready to suffer. Loving means giving the sheep what is truly good, the nourishment of God's truth, of God's word, the nourishment of His presence, which He gives us in the Blessed Sacrament."

Full text.

+++

Shepherds, Good and Bad

Robert Pollock O.P.

The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as 'Good Shepherd Sunday'; in a narrow understanding this refers to vocations to the priesthood, but in a wider sense it encompasses the whole apostolic and pastoral mission of the Church.

The Good Shepherd is one of the best-known and best loved of the images in the New Testament. It has its roots deep in salvation history: David, the boy shepherd, was chosen to be king of Israel; he was the anointed leader of the people of God, to guide and lead them towards God and his kingdom.

Our Lord speaks very solemnly of shepherds and pastors in the first part of chapter ten of Saint John's Gospel. The young Church in its ministry of preaching and teaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God had perhaps encountered difficulties in its pastoral ministry; what is true and what is false teaching - or, in the gospel idiom, how do you distinguish between the true and the false voices? Where there are many voices there is great danger of confusion. Great concern for the people of God is expressed in this passage; if the people are misled, if they are persuaded by a false voice, they could be prevented from attaining the Kingdom of God.

Full text.