Letter from the Pastor
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April 18, 2024We have reached the mid-point of the Easter Season. Today is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of the readings, particularly the Gospel, the prayers, and antiphons. In 1964, seven months after he became pope, Pope St. Paul VI instituted this Sunday to be World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We should always pray for vocations to the priesthood.The Fourth Sunday of Easter also marks a shift in the Gospel readings. The previous Sundays’ Gospels focused on the events of our Lord’s appearances after the Resurrection. Starting today and for the upcoming Sundays the readings prepare us for the Ascension and Pentecost. Our First Readings from the Acts of the Apostles remain the historical accounts of the life of the early Church.
It is the Lord who applies to Himself the image of a Good Shepherd, an image rooted in the Old Testament and very much cherished in Christian tradition. It started with Abel who sacrificed the first-born lamb to God, while Cain gave whatever vegetables were left over. Shepherds always played an important role in the story of God and His people. It was because he was a shepherd boy that David was picked by the prophet to become king and leader of God’s people. David was to become the shepherd-king. The responsibilities given to David by his father to care for the sheep involved circumstances where David had to be willing to risk his life for the sheep. This would later come to symbolize the significance of our Lord coming to not just risk His life, but to actually lay down His life for the Father’s sheep.
One of the earliest images of Christ to be found in the catacombs and the Roman basilicas is the youthful shepherd carrying the lost sheep upon His shoulders. There are many images within the gospels, which represents the character and attributes of Christ. Yet, the story of the Good Shepherd represents the entire gospel message, which is the foundation of Christianity. The story shows the importance of Christians following the Good Shepherd, sometimes changing their path, in order to walk with Him. The Good Shepherd leads and guides His flock. He brings them to green pastures, near restful waters, to lie down. And in case we may get lost along the way, our Lord, the Good Shepherd, goes and searches for the one lost sheep. This is the message that our Lord proclaims, the desire He has for every lost sheep to turn and follow Him. And finally, it is only a good shepherd who is willing to die, to protect the sheep.
The Good Shepherd was always a symbol of life and hope for those who understood who and what Jesus did. For Christians today, the significance behind the Good Shepherd story has not changed. The image of Christ the Good Shepherd shows the love and the sacrifice that the Good Shepherd has for us. It still signifies the importance of having a personal and intimate relationship with our Lord and God, through His death on the cross. Finally, Christians realize the importance of living as the Good Shepherd did: caring for and teaching about the love of Christ to others. This is the fundamental message of Christians today: to proclaim the story of the Good Shepherd laying down His life for all.
Good Shepherd Sunday is one more added joy to the Easter Season.
First Holy Communion SeasonStarting next Saturday and for the following three weeks,
our Second Graders will be receiving their First Holy Communion.
Please keep them and their families in your prayers.
It is always a joyful celebration.
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Because of their Mass, there will be no Parish Noonday Mass on the Saturdays:
April 27, May 4, 11, 18th.
Confessions will be heard at 11:00.
