FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Acts 4:8-12
Psalm 117
1 John 3:1-2
John 10:11-18

SHEPHERDS AFTER THE HEART OF JESUS CHRIST

The fourth Sunday of Easter is also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” and is set aside to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims that he is the Good Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd, he freely lays down his life for his sheep, knows them, cares for them, defends them from foreign attacks and goes out to look for the lost sheep. He gathers his sheep into one sheepfold (John 10:11-18).

Praying for vocations therefore is a way of asking the Lord to give us shepherds after his own heart, as he himself had promised (Jer. 3:15). For we need priests and religious who care for God’s people, who are close to them, know them and listen to them. We need holy priests and religious, people who touch lives by their way of life.

There are two main vocations by which the Lord calls each one of us to service. One is the married life and the other priestly and religious life. God has called each one of us, but what we are to be has not yet come (1 John 3:1-2). Therefore, as pilgrims, let us cultivate the virtues of patience and perseverance. We live in a world which is becoming more hostile to the Gospel. Like Peter in the first reading, let us be bold and fearless in preaching the truth about Jesus Christ, for in him alone there is salvation (Acts 4:8-12).

Let us all pray for, encourage and support vocations. Let us pray expecially for young people that many may respond positively to the call of the Lord and give their lives to the Risen Lord in priestly or religious life. Amen