Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A: Vocation/Good Shepherd Sunday – May 3, 2020.

Readings: Acts 2:14,36-41; Ps 23:1-3a 3b-4, 5, 6; 1 Peter 2:20b-25 & Gospel – John 10:1-10.

Theme: Imitating the Good Shepherd

Summary Lines

The first reading reveals Peter’s edge-cutting homily on Pentecost which led to the repentance of about 3000 people. In the second reading, St. Peter urges us to imitate Jesus’ suffering and patience. The Gospel which describes Jesus as the Door of the Sheepfold warns us against going through another way. It assures that the shepherd will only open the door to those who listen to his voice. On Good Shepherd or Vocation Sunday, we pray for more vocations to the priestly and religious life even as we commit our missionaries on the fire-line to the care of God! 

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, the Fourth Sunday of Easter also known as Good Shepherd or Vocation Sunday invites us to measure our various vocations on the barometer of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The Catholic Church teaches that there are two vocations in the Church which the Penny Catechism refers to as Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders – Little wonder, they are called the Sacraments of Christian Vocation. Since sacraments are ladders for climbing to the heavens, it is important for the ministers of the word and sacrament to reassess their vocation. Members of the laity too who are grafted to the Lord by the virtue of their baptism into Christ are given another opportunity to reflect on their lives to see if the family is indeed the Domestic Church which incubates vocations to the priestly and religious life. Our reflection titled: “Fourth Sunday of Easter” aspires to provoke us to reflect on the standard set for us by our model, the Good Shepherd.  

  

Background and Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Acts 2:14, 36-41) recounts how Peter gave an edge-cutting homily on Pentecost which led to the repentance and baptism of about 3000 people. It emphasizes that they repented of their sins and accepted the faith in fulfilment of the prophecies of old. It further revealed Peter’s testimony of the word thus: “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

In the second reading (1 Peter 2:20b-25), St. Peter calls the faithful to imitate Jesus’ patience by urging them to do right even if they have to suffer for it. He noted that although he did not commit any sin and no guile was found on his lips, when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but trusted in the one who had the will to deliver him. Apostle Peter emphasized that he bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might live for righteousness; he further assured that we are healed by his wounds - although we went astray, we are now back to the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.

The Gospel reading (John 10:1-10) presents Jesus as the Door of the sheepfold. Therein, Jesus warns against going through another way other than the door; he assures that the shepherd will only open the door to those who listen to his voice and follow his lead.  He surmised: “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Pastoral Lessons

1. Seek the Holy Spirit: Pastors of souls are challenged to seek the Holy Spirit which has the power to make them preach edge-cutting homilies that are capable of changing multitudes as Peter did in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4:8-12).

2. Seek Repentance:  Just as Peter’s audience repented and were baptised, there is no better time to make a metanio in our lives than during this Coronavirus pandemic when the world is in a slow motion of deaths, fear, anxieties, hunger, joblessness and seeming hopelessness.

3. Save Yourself: St. Peter was not oblivious of dissenting voices that was why he warned: “Save yourselves from this crooked generation – this advice is timely and worth pondering upon.

4. Be Patient: Apostle Peter urges that when we do right and suffer for it, we should take it patiently – this admonition makes a lot of sense to our many brothers and sisters who fell for the venom of COVID-19 for no fault of theirs – This is not a dead sentence; you shall come out victorious through Christ who strengthens us and heals all ailments.