Fourth Sunday of Easter / Good Shepherd Sunday
May 03, 2020 •
Standing in His personhood are the shepherds of His flock. His priests, His Bishops, the Pope who for the last two thousand years are shepherding the flock of Christ in the world in His name. The Kingdom of God is once again now reigning in the world.
Originally it was the dominion of Adam, then because of sin - Satan's dominion. And it still exists to this day. But since Christ has come and conquered sin and established His holy Catholic Church, His kingdom actually exists in the world.... There is a spiritual battle constantly going on between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.
Those who can hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, they come to Him. They receive His Sacraments - they are "baptized and repent of their sins". Then they follow Him and His teachings. They live in His Sacraments. That's the kingdom of Heaven.
What Good Shepherd would ever abandon His flock? We have His words: He is the Good Shepherd... what would He not do for us?
So whether we can get to the Sacraments readily or not, He will not abandon us .
It doesn't mean we don't still have responsibilities as His sheep. We need to listen to His voice, keep up our daily prayers... especially for my own parishioners, if you really need to get to confession, call me. I'll make it happen.
Pray for one another. The sheep are not scattered - even at this time.
The Lord says that He opens the gate, and He leads His sheep out into pasture. And that beautiful line at the end of the Gospel that He gives us. He reminds us why He came: Jesus came, regardless of our fears or concerns, so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
And He wants us to believe that.
Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; 1Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10: 1-10