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From the Pastor's Desk: April 30, 2023
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From the Pastor’s Desk: April 30, 2023
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called Good Shepherd Sunday. The Gospel reading refers to the 10th Chapter of St. John’s Gospel, in which Jesus reveals the relationship He has with each of His faithful followers. Jesus says about Himself: “I am the Good Shepherd.” And His faithful followers, with the words of today’s responsorial psalm, joyfully respond: “The Lord is my shepherd. I want, I lack, for nothing!” We mark this fact in the heart of the Easter Season each year, because it is the heart of our Easter joy - with the Risen Lord Jesus as our Shepherd, we truly have it all. And yet, how closely do we listen to the voice of the Shepherd when the clamor of false voices and seductive distractions threaten to overwhelm us with confusing voices and messages? In truth, Christ is the voice that calls us each by name to enter into new life in Him. He is the gate wide open with love and mercy to welcome everyone as He desires to protect us and guard us. This is where the truth of the Resurrected Jesus dwells - in the heart of the Good Shepherd - as we hear, follow and recognize His voice with ears and eyes of faith, with hearts open with trust and minds seeking love. This is the path to happiness of life. The Gate is open. Will you enter?
This Sunday also celebrates the 60th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The theme for this year of prayers for vocations is "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). “It is essential that every local Church become more sensitive and attentive to the pastoral care of vocations, helping children and young people in particular at every level of family, parish and associations – as Jesus did with his disciples - to grow into a genuine and affectionate friendship with the Lord, cultivated through personal and liturgical prayer; to grow in familiarity with the sacred Scriptures and thus to listen attentively and fruitfully to the word of God; to understand that entering into God’s will does not crush or destroy a person, but instead leads to the discovery of the deepest truth about ourselves; and finally to be generous and fraternal in relationships with others, since it is only in being open to the love of God that we discover true joy and the fulfilment of our aspirations. “Proposing Vocations in the Local Church” means having the courage, through an attentive and suitable concern for vocations, to point out this challenging way of following Christ which, because it is so rich in meaning, is capable of engaging the whole of one’s life.” (Pope Benedict XVI)
This Sunday at a special Mass at 2:00 pm, 36 children from our parish will bear witness to the love of Christ as they will celebrate their First Communion, receiving the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for the first time. I want to congratulate all those who will be receiving their First Communion this Sunday. It is a very special moment in your lives – a moment that will change your lives once and forever. From now on, you will receive the greatest gift of God to us – His creation – the Eucharist. From now on, you will grow ever closer to the One whom you will receive – Jesus Christ. I also want to thank everyone who helped and assisted in any way with the sacramental preparation of our children and assure you, families and friends, of my prayers on this very special day.
On Monday this week we will begin the month of May. The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Mary in many cultures. It is the "month which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady," and it is the occasion for a "moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world [pay] to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, both in church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration. In this month, too, the benefits of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance" (Paul VI: Encyclical on the Month of May, no. 1).
I pray that we will be attentive to the voice of the Good Shepherd- that He will keep us safe and allow us to grow in our relationship with Him, one holy moment at a time. “Jesus told me, ‘My heaven would not be complete without you.’” -St. Gertrude the Great
Have a blessed week!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy
