Fourth Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Good morning every one, I would like to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass and our special welcome to all our visitor.

Today the Holy Catholic Church celebrates the fourth Sunday of Easter as Good Shepherd Sunday and world day of prayer for vocations. Jesus Christ the Only Son of God is the good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. Those who listen to His voice and follow Him will have life that will never end.

Once there was a man who owned several hundred sheep. His servants used to take them out for feeding and each evening as they brought them back, they found two or three missing. He asked his servants to go and look for them, but for the fear of wild beasts and wolves, they refused to do so. The owner had love for them and wanted to save them. And he said to himself, “If I go myself, searching for these sheep, they will not recognize me as they have not seen me before. So I must become like a sheep to save them” Then he went out and found some of them gone astray and others had been wounded. They readily followed him thinking he was a sheep like one of themselves. He brought them in and sat with them and fed them, then he took off his sheep skin. He was not a sheep but man a good shepherd. God became man so that we could become divine and enter into the kingdom of God.

What are the functions of the good shepherd. The new David the eternal king came to gather the people of Israel and all to the one fold.

Yes, Jesus the good shepherd wants to gather us all under his guidance and thus lead us to paradise. And that is why the Christ who says, “I am the good shepherd who lays down His life for his sheep”, goes after the one sheep that is lost and as he finds them, there will be a big celebration.

The good shepherd came to gather the sheep and cleanse the temple of god. During His mission, Christ cleansed the temple of Jerusalem and today He wants to cleans us the temple of the Holy Spirit. we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and it is our duty to keep them pure and holy. As we spiritually uplift ourselves, then we will begin to hear the divine voice. The good shepherd says that my sheep will listen to my voice and they will follow me.

Jesus the good shepherd came to gather his sheep and cleanse them and then to protect them from their enemies. There are so many wild beasts and wolves are constantly around the believers. They are looking for an opportunity to devour us. But the amazing thing is, we are not alone, the shepherd is with us and He is ready to protect and guide us. He will lay down His own precious life for us. we do not need to be worried or afraid of anything. As we listen to Him, we will be safe and secure.

The good shepherd came to gather, cleanse, protect us from our enemies and then reign over us or lead us to eternal life. As we deepen our faith in the Lord our Shepherd, we will like David with the loud voice sing, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want”. He is our good shepherd and leads us to green pastures. As we enjoy his love and kindness; His compassion and forgiveness, let us share his love and forgiveness with one another. Amen.