4th Sunday of Easter
On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we reflect on the beautiful and loving image of the Good Shepherd. Scripture leads us to see the gentleness and protective face of God in the Good Shepherd, guiding us with the perfect love and protection he alone can provide. We see the rod/staff in His hand, guiding and directing us with authority and supporting us from falling into sin and evil. And, with the staff’s hook atop, he steadies our steps and remains ready to rescue us should we fall. We also see the Shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders. Perhaps that is us when we are too burdened to stand on our own. Maybe this is the time we are too weak to carry the burden of helplessly witnessing someone we love suffer.
Peter tells us, “If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God.” This challenge remains when we feel that doing good appears to be in vain. How do we persevere in doing good when those doing evil continue to do evil? Our faith tells us to love our enemies; our faith tells us to give, and when we think we’ve given enough, give more! Let us remember that repentance is not restricted to Lent. Rather, it is a constant call for us to be truly sorry for those times we sin, we fail to ‘give more,’ or those times when we judge others.
Our world is challenged in so many ways, but with God’s grace, we are empowered to persevere toward peace. Imagine peace and love throughout the world! As in the Psalm, “Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord…”
Prayer:
Lord God, all-powerful and just, you govern your creation wisely and with fatherly care. Like a shepherd, you gather us into your arms and feed us with the best of all Food. Increase our conviction in your unfailing goodness and loving resolve to gather us into your new creation. Amen. (Bernard J. Camire SSS in Praise God In His Holy Place).
