READING OF THE DAY First reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Acts 13:14, 43-52
Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats. Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.
On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.”
The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 100 - Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his[a]; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Second reading from the Book of Revelation Rev 7:9, 14b-17
I, John, had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Then one of the elders said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
GOSPEL OF THE DAY From the Gospel according to John Jn 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.”
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER These words help us to understand that no one can call himself a follower of Jesus, if he does not listen to His voice. And this “listening” should not be understood in a superficial way, but in an engaging way, to the point of making possible a true mutual understanding, from which one can come to a generous following, expressed in the words, ‘and they follow me’ (v. 27). It is a matter of listening not only with ears, but listening with the heart! (Angelus, 17 April 2016)
POPE FRANCIS 21 April 2013 The Fourth Sunday of the Season of Easter is characterized by the Gospel of the Good Shepherd — in chapter ten of St John — which is read every year. Today’s passage records these words of Jesus: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (10:27-30). These four verses contain the whole of Jesus’ message; it is the nucleus of his Gospel: he calls us to share in his relationship with the Father, and this is eternal life.
Jesus wants to establish with his friends a relationship which mirrors his own relationship with the Father: a relationship of reciprocal belonging in full trust, in intimate communion. To express this profound understanding, this relationship of friendship, Jesus uses the image of the shepherd with his sheep: he calls them and they recognize his voice, they respond to his call and follow him. This parable is very beautiful! The mystery of his voice is evocative: only think that from our mother’s womb we learn to recognize her voice and that of our father; it is from the tone of a voice that we perceive love or contempt, affection or coldness. Jesus’ voice is unique! If we learn to distinguish it, he guides us on the path of life, a path that goes beyond even the abyss of death.
However Jesus, at a certain point, said: “my Father, who has given them to me...” (Jn 10:29), referring to his sheep. This is very important, it is a profound mystery, far from easy to understand. If I feel drawn to Jesus, if his voice warms my heart, it is thanks to God the Father who has sown within me the desire for love, for truth, for life, for beauty... and Jesus is all this in fullness! This helps us understand the mystery of vocation and especially of the call to a special consecration. Sometimes Jesus calls us, he invites us to follow him, but perhaps we do not realize that it is he who is calling, like what happened to the young Samuel. There are many young people today, here in the Square. There are large numbers of you aren’t there? It’s clear.... Look! Here in the Square today there are so many of you! I would like to ask you: have you sometimes heard the Lord’s voice, in a desire, in a worry, did he invite you to follow him more closely? Have you heard him? I can’t hear you? There! Have you wanted to be apostles of Jesus? We must bet on youth for the great ideals. Do you think this? Do you agree? Ask Jesus what he wants of you and be brave! Be brave! Ask him this! ... This is why Jesus said: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest”, that is, God the Father, “to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38). Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. I am pleased to stress this today, which is the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations”... Let us invoke the intercession of Mary who is the Woman of the “yes”. Mary said “yes” throughout her life! She learned to recognize Jesus’ voice from the time when she carried him in her womb. May Mary, our Mother, help us to know Jesus’ voice better and better and to follow it, so as to walk on the path of life! Thank you.
Thank you so much for your greeting, but greet Jesus too. Shout “Jesus” very loudly.... Let us all pray together to Our Lady.
HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI 29 April 2012 BENEDICT XVI - JESUS OF NAZARET - "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD". (Jn 10:10) ...The thief comes "to steal, kill and destroy" He sees the sheep as his property, which he owns and utilizes for himself. He cares only for himself; he demands everything only for himself. On the contrary, the true shepherd does not take away life, but gives it. "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly." ...Jesus promises to show the sheep the "pasture" what they live on, to truly lead them to the sources of life. We can listen here, as a resonance, to the words of Psalm 23: "He makes me rest in green pastures, he leads me to quiet waters.... You prepare a table before me... Happiness and grace will be my companions all the days of my life..." In an even more immediate way, Ezekiel's shepherd's speech resonates with you: "I will lead them into excellent pastures, and their fold shall be in the high mountains of Israel" (34:14)... Jesus as the Incarnate Word of God is Himself not only the shepherd, but also the nourisher, the true "pasture" He gives life by giving Himself, He who is Life. ...In the light of Psalm 23 "...If I walk through the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil.... Happiness and grace shall be my companions all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever and ever." They recognized in Christ the Good Shepherd who guides through the dark valleys of life, the shepherd who has personally passed through the dark valley of death; The shepherd who also knows the way through the night of death and who does not abandon me even in that last solitude, leading me out of that valley to the grassy pastures of life, to the place of "refreshment, of light, of peace." Clement of Alexandria expressed this confidence in the shepherd's guidance in verses that reveal something of the hope and optimism of the early Church, often suffering and repeatedly persecuted: "Guide, O holy shepherd, your spiritual sheep ; Guide, O King, your uninjured children. The footsteps of Christ are the path to heaven". Naturally, Christians were reminded of both the parable of the shepherd who follows the lost sheep ( Lk 15), loads it on his shoulders and takes it home, and the speech of the shepherd in the Gospel of John. For the Fathers, these two elements merged into one another: the shepherd who sets out to search for the lost sheep is the Eternal Word Himself, and the sheep that He puts on His shoulders and lovingly carries home is humanity, is human nature, which He assumed. In His incarnation and in His cross He brings home the lost sheep - humanity - He also brings me. The Logos made man is the true " bringer of the sheep " - the Shepherd who follows us through the thorns and deserts of life. Carried by Him, we come home. He gave his life for us. He Himself is Life.
FAUSTI - Jesus is the Beautiful Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep. His opponents cannot believe in Him: they do not follow Him, the High Shepherd, but another shepherd who is death. To believe or not to believe is not a theoretical question, but a practical one: it is an act of our freedom, in which we decide which foundation to choose for our existence. Man, however, lives by faith, and believes in what he trusts in his life, whatever it is: things, ideas or people. If he does not entrust himself to the One who gives his life, he entrusts himself to his idols, who take it away from him. But the Son does not interrupt the dialogue with his brethren. Even those who do not believe are called to follow Him. In fact, all of us are of Him, destined to be children in the Son. Jesus explicitly invites those who do not believe so they may see their own blindness and desire the light. This is a reference to the previous speech on the Shepherd Even opponents are called to listen to His voice. He is talking just to them. Whoever believes in the Son sent by the Father, has eternal life (3:16): the Son's own life, which He came to make accessible to all, so that nothing that the Father has given Him may die (6:39). It is a Life that overcomes death (8,519), a spring of Living-water spray (4,14) offered to those who thirst and come to Him (7,37). Nor does anyone kidnap his sheep from his hand: the hand indicates strength, power and the capacity to act. The Beautiful Shepherd reassures his sheep: his hand, which is the same as that of the Father, effectively defends them from thieves, mercenaries and wolves. As Jesus was in the grip of the enemies of Him and of the flock, He strengthened His disciples. They will be shocked by his death and by the difficulties that they will encounter", he said: "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered" (Zk 13:7). But the Risen One will gather them together after Easter. Then they will understand that His hand is all-powerful because it is nailed to the wood of the cross, which is the culmination of Jesus' revelation. The Father and the Son are full communion of Love, one being and acting, understanding and wanting. It is the mystery of God who is "One", but not Alone. It is the perfect unity between Father and Son.
READING OF THE DAY
RispondiEliminaFirst reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 13:14, 43-52
Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga
and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.
Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism
followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them
and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.
On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered
to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”
The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the city,
stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them,
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 100 - Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Second reading from the Book of Revelation
Rev 7:9, 14b-17
I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Then one of the elders said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.
For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to John
Jn 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.”
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
RispondiEliminaThese words help us to understand that no one can call himself a follower of Jesus, if he does not listen to His voice. And this “listening” should not be understood in a superficial way, but in an engaging way, to the point of making possible a true mutual understanding, from which one can come to a generous following, expressed in the words, ‘and they follow me’ (v. 27). It is a matter of listening not only with ears, but listening with the heart! (Angelus, 17 April 2016)
RispondiEliminaPOPE FRANCIS
21 April 2013
The Fourth Sunday of the Season of Easter is characterized by the Gospel of the Good Shepherd — in chapter ten of St John — which is read every year. Today’s passage records these words of Jesus: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (10:27-30). These four verses contain the whole of Jesus’ message; it is the nucleus of his Gospel: he calls us to share in his relationship with the Father, and this is eternal life.
Jesus wants to establish with his friends a relationship which mirrors his own relationship with the Father: a relationship of reciprocal belonging in full trust, in intimate communion. To express this profound understanding, this relationship of friendship, Jesus uses the image of the shepherd with his sheep: he calls them and they recognize his voice, they respond to his call and follow him. This parable is very beautiful! The mystery of his voice is evocative: only think that from our mother’s womb we learn to recognize her voice and that of our father; it is from the tone of a voice that we perceive love or contempt, affection or coldness. Jesus’ voice is unique! If we learn to distinguish it, he guides us on the path of life, a path that goes beyond even the abyss of death.
However Jesus, at a certain point, said: “my Father, who has given them to me...” (Jn 10:29), referring to his sheep. This is very important, it is a profound mystery, far from easy to understand. If I feel drawn to Jesus, if his voice warms my heart, it is thanks to God the Father who has sown within me the desire for love, for truth, for life, for beauty... and Jesus is all this in fullness! This helps us understand the mystery of vocation and especially of the call to a special consecration. Sometimes Jesus calls us, he invites us to follow him, but perhaps we do not realize that it is he who is calling, like what happened to the young Samuel. There are many young people today, here in the Square. There are large numbers of you aren’t there? It’s clear.... Look! Here in the Square today there are so many of you! I would like to ask you: have you sometimes heard the Lord’s voice, in a desire, in a worry, did he invite you to follow him more closely? Have you heard him? I can’t hear you? There! Have you wanted to be apostles of Jesus? We must bet on youth for the great ideals. Do you think this? Do you agree? Ask Jesus what he wants of you and be brave! Be brave! Ask him this!
... This is why Jesus said: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest”, that is, God the Father, “to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38). Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. I am pleased to stress this today, which is the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations”...
Let us invoke the intercession of Mary who is the Woman of the “yes”. Mary said “yes” throughout her life! She learned to recognize Jesus’ voice from the time when she carried him in her womb. May Mary, our Mother, help us to know Jesus’ voice better and better and to follow it, so as to walk on the path of life! Thank you.
Thank you so much for your greeting, but greet Jesus too. Shout “Jesus” very loudly.... Let us all pray together to Our Lady.
HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
RispondiElimina29 April 2012
BENEDICT XVI - JESUS OF NAZARET - "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD".
(Jn 10:10) ...The thief comes "to steal, kill and destroy" He sees the sheep as his property, which he owns and utilizes for himself. He cares only for himself; he demands everything only for himself. On the contrary, the true shepherd does not take away life, but gives it. "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly."
...Jesus promises to show the sheep the "pasture" what they live on, to truly lead them to the sources of life. We can listen here, as a resonance, to the words of Psalm 23: "He makes me rest in green pastures, he leads me to quiet waters.... You prepare a table before me... Happiness and grace will be my companions all the days of my life..." In an even more immediate way, Ezekiel's shepherd's speech resonates with you: "I will lead them into excellent pastures, and their fold shall be in the high mountains of Israel" (34:14)... Jesus as the Incarnate Word of God is Himself not only the shepherd, but also the nourisher, the true "pasture" He gives life by giving Himself, He who is Life.
...In the light of Psalm 23 "...If I walk through the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil.... Happiness and grace shall be my companions all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever and ever." They recognized in Christ the Good Shepherd who guides through the dark valleys of life, the shepherd who has personally passed through the dark valley of death; The shepherd who also knows the way through the night of death and who does not abandon me even in that last solitude, leading me out of that valley to the grassy pastures of life, to the place of "refreshment, of light, of peace." Clement of Alexandria expressed this confidence in the shepherd's guidance in verses that reveal something of the hope and optimism of the early Church, often suffering and repeatedly persecuted:
"Guide, O holy shepherd, your spiritual sheep ;
Guide, O King, your uninjured children.
The footsteps of Christ are the path to heaven".
Naturally, Christians were reminded of both the parable of the shepherd who follows the lost sheep ( Lk 15), loads it on his shoulders and takes it home, and the speech of the shepherd in the Gospel of John. For the Fathers, these two elements merged into one another: the shepherd who sets out to search for the lost sheep is the Eternal Word Himself, and the sheep that He puts on His shoulders and lovingly carries home is humanity, is human nature, which He assumed.
In His incarnation and in His cross He brings home the lost sheep - humanity - He also brings me.
The Logos made man is the true " bringer of the sheep " -
the Shepherd who follows us through the thorns and deserts of life.
Carried by Him, we come home.
He gave his life for us.
He Himself is Life.
FAUSTI - Jesus is the Beautiful Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep. His opponents cannot believe in Him: they do not follow Him, the High Shepherd, but another shepherd who is death.
RispondiEliminaTo believe or not to believe is not a theoretical question, but a practical one: it is an act of our freedom, in which we decide which foundation to choose for our existence. Man, however, lives by faith, and believes in what he trusts in his life, whatever it is: things, ideas or people.
If he does not entrust himself to the One who gives his life, he entrusts himself to his idols, who take it away from him.
But the Son does not interrupt the dialogue with his brethren. Even those who do not believe are called to follow Him.
In fact, all of us are of Him, destined to be children in the Son.
Jesus explicitly invites those who do not believe so they may see their own blindness and desire the light. This is a reference to the previous speech on the Shepherd
Even opponents are called to listen to His voice. He is talking just to them.
Whoever believes in the Son sent by the Father, has eternal life (3:16): the Son's own life, which He came to make accessible to all, so that nothing that the Father has given Him may die (6:39).
It is a Life that overcomes death (8,519), a spring of Living-water spray (4,14) offered to those who thirst and come to Him (7,37).
Nor does anyone kidnap his sheep from his hand: the hand indicates strength, power and the capacity to act.
The Beautiful Shepherd reassures his sheep: his hand, which is the same as that of the Father, effectively defends them from thieves, mercenaries and wolves.
As Jesus was in the grip of the enemies of Him and of the flock, He strengthened His disciples.
They will be shocked by his death and by the difficulties that they will encounter", he said: "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered" (Zk 13:7).
But the Risen One will gather them together after Easter.
Then they will understand that His hand is all-powerful because it is nailed to the wood of the cross, which is the culmination of Jesus' revelation.
The Father and the Son are full communion of Love, one being and acting, understanding and wanting.
It is the mystery of God who is "One", but not Alone.
It is the perfect unity between Father and Son.