Daily Reflection – Apr 17, 2016

Sunday 17 April 2016

First Reading: 
Acts 13:14, 43-52
Responsorial Psalm:
We are his people, the sheep of his flock
Psalm 99(100):1-3, 5
Second Reading: Apocalypse 7:9, 14-17
Gospel Reading: John 10:27-30

Today’s Note: Fourth Sunday of Easter

Gospel Reading:

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.”

Reflection:

This is often known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus, according to John, takes a title belonging to God and applies it to himself in Jn 10:11: “I am the good shepherd.” He exacerbates the “blasphemy” by claiming: “The Father and I are one.” Jesus does not mean “consubstantial with the Father,” as later centuries would understand their union. Rather he speaks of the deep, personal union open to all of us who hear Christ’s voice and respond—union with him, with the Father and with each other. As Paul speaks today to Gentiles and later writes to the Galatians in 3:28: “In Christ there is no Jew nor Gentile…all are one.” As our Eucharistic prayer invites: “Take, all of you, and eat…”
When, how do you experience union with God, with Christ, the Spirit, the community? How will you respond to those memories? What has opened you over the years to “all of you,” “all are one in Christ”? Where do you still need and/or want a deeper union? Talk to the Shepherd about your desire, and his: that all may be one.

Thank you, Jesus, for your grasp on our hearts. No one can snatch us out of your hands. Here are our desires, our worries, our annoyances. We put them in your hands.