Greetings on this the Fourth Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 4:8-12; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29; 1 Jn 3:1-2; Jn 10:11-18
Notes
Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone (Mk 10:18). At the plain reading of this quote Jesus is denying the designation good as only God is good. Knowing who he is, after the fact, Jesus is not denying his divinity denoting the ultimate truth: God is Good, Beyond picking out this act or that act of goodness, which we do all the time, God of his very essence is good. He is the Good, he is the Truth, he is the Beautiful.
The Good Shepherd – to tend, to direct, to guide to the ultimate good.
Cross reference of the Homily from 2021 on Good Shepherd Sunday. http://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2021/04/25/the-good-shepherd/
The Lord expresses the divine will of the Father by his total act of love – to lay down his life for us, all of us. It is a mystery, love is. Even though we reject and crucified him, he knows in the deepest parts of our being we cry out silently what we proclaim vigorously on Palm Sunday, Hosanna: Lord, Save us! The LORD knows. He knows the deepest need and the deepest desire of the heart to be loved and to live in the divine love. Even as we lash out and reject God and one another, he hears the deepest yearnings.
We say and do the worst because of our fallen habits
- Rejected (Acts 4)
- Crucified (Acts 4)
The divine answer to our deepest desire
- Mercy (PS 118)
- Refuge (PS 118)
- Kindness (PS 118)
- Resurrection (Acts 4)
- Salvation (Acts 4)
- Children of God (1 Jn 3)
- We shall be like him (1 Jn 3)
Power to be Powerless
Jesus is the answer to the human plea: rescue us (LORD, grant salvation! PS 118:25a).
He acts not with revenge or punishment. He acts in humility.
This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.
Summary
The Good Shepherd discourse can be framed in the trial and sentencing of Jesus by Pilate. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered [him], “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above (Jn 19:10-11a). I mean simply Jesus anticipated this encounter while previously speaking in the temple area both (1) a prediction of resurrection and (2) his obedience to the Father.
Reflection
The Good Shepherd leads us to the Father, the ultimate good and source of good. It is the divine will that we be returned to him.
Personal Reflection
Lead me Lord to the divine life of the Holy Trinity. The good. My good. The good in this life and the life to come.
First Reading
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said: “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.
There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.
Responsorial
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Second Reading
Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.
Gospel Acclamation
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.
Gospel
The Good Shepherd.
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry