April 21, 2024
4th Sunday
Easter
FOCUS: Respond to the Lord’s sacrificial love with gratitude, trust, and love.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that he suffered and died for us because of the depth of God’s love for us, because this is what a Good Shepherd does for those in his care. How should we respond to such love? With gratitude, trust, and love; by listening to his voice in our lives and being obedient to his commands. This is not always an easy task, but one with which the Lord is happy to assist us.
What's in Your Heart
Scripture challenges leaders to make sacrifices for the sake of their people and reveal God's love in their actions.
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The power to heal comes through Christ. How have I used this power well?
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Jesus is the cornerstone to our salvation. In what ways do I turn from him? How can I put Jesus more clearly at the center of my life?
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We are children of God now. How well do I witness the legacy of God's love?
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Do I turn to the Good Shepherd when I am feeling lost? Do others turn to me? How well do I respond?
Homily Stories
I remember how badly it stung. The kids in the neighborhood were choosing up sides for a pickup game of touch football, and I was odd man out. Rejected. Told to sit on the sidelines. I slunk on home and read comic books—taking solace in reading about the rejection that Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne experienced. Little did the world know whom they were rejecting in Clark and Bruce—and me.
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And I remember another time being out in the street gathering for a game when an older kid who was creative took charge. Again we had one too many players. Again someone was going to be left out. This time it was another of the younger kids—my buddy Jeffrey. But then the older kid said, “Hey, don’t leave. You can be the official hiker for both teams.” And so began a tradition on our block where no one was left out of the game. No one was rejected.
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Perhaps it was because he knew he would be the "stone the builders rejected” that made Jesus so passionate about inclusion—seeing himself as the good shepherd who would not rest until the lost sheep was brought back into the fold.
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First Reading
Second Reading
Gospel
Video Reflection
Quotes
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The sheep that will stray is the most obstreperous, troublesome one.
—Desmond Tutu
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Know the difference between a good and a bad shepherd: the good shepherd cares for the welfare of his flock, but the bad shepherd cares only for his own welfare.
—Saint Thomas Aquinas