The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, May 2, 2004
Fourth Sunday of Easter

Scripture from Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 13:14,43-52
Psalm 100:1-3,5
Revelation 7:9,14-17
John 10:27-30

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“My sheep hear my voice.”(John 10:27)

We have heard this Gospel story many times and know from countless homilies about the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. Each time I am reminded that it is a relationship between those who are very familiar with one another--and involves the kind of loyalty which is experiential.

God desires that we experience the depth and breadth of His creative and redeeming love, and has gone out of His way to prove it. Let us consider, then, that first of all we’ve been chosen by God (shepherds choose their sheep--not sheep their shepherd) and in choosing us He has invested in us and made us His own. Think next what shall be our response? Shall we stay close and be the recipients of His protection or shall we foolishly stray away?

The fearsome choice with all its consequences is ours and even so we are reminded what kind of a Shepherd the Lord really is--He is ready to defend us, to rescue us. The wonderful words of today’s Gospel remind us that the Lord is no ordinary Shepherd... “there is no snatching out of His hand.”(see John 10:25-29)

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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posted by joachim at 4:23 AM