4th Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) - 8 May
8th May 2022
4th Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) - 8 May
A short reflection on today's reading from St John's book of the Apocalypse by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"St John, in his vision of heaven and the Lamb, pictures the Lamb coming again on the last day to judge us. All will see him, even those who have pierced him. He will come bearing the same scars that he showed to Thomas on his hands and feet and side. Hands that broke bread to signify his own broken body. Hands that ministered bread to the starving. Hands that laid themselves on the heads of little children. Hands that touched lepers. Hands that were calloused in the carpenter’s shop. Feet. Feet the mother worried about as they pattered over lumber and nails and hammers, and brought her visions of the man who would be put to death by the same lumber and nails and hammers. Feet that Magdalen would wash. Feet before which the Syrophoenician woman threw herself in petition, in love. The wound in the heart. It was large enough for a hand, for our Lord said to Thomas, 'Put your hand into my side.' So when this Lamb comes, bearing these signs on hands and feet and side, we will all see the scars. We will be judged by them. He will say, 'Show me your hands. Have they been scarred from giving? Are they scarred in service? Are they scarred in labour? Are they scarred in relieving the cares of feverish brows? Have they been scarred in giving food to the hungry? "For I was hungry and you gave me to eat." Show me your feet. Have they gone on missions? Have they helped missionaries? Have they gone about doing good? Have they often made a track down the middle aisle of the church to visit the eucharistic Saviour? Have they ever wandered to the feet of the crucifix? Show me your side. Is it scarred in pain out of love for him? Has the heart been scarred in love - not in need-love or self-satisfying love, but in gift-love? Is the side scarred from thinking about my Passion and my death that you may glory in my Resurrection?' This is the way you’ll be judged: Hands and feet and side." (Through the Year With Fulton Sheen)
Good Shepherd Sunday Prayer
Lord, we are your people, the sheep of your flock. Heal the sheep who are wounded, Touch the sheep who are in pain, Clean the sheep who are soiled, Warm the lambs who are cold. Help us to know the Father’s love through Jesus the Good Shepherd and through the Holy Spirit. Help us to lift up that love, and show it all over this land. Help us to build love on justice and justice on love. Help us to believe mightily, hope joyfully, and love divinely. Amen. 🙏💖
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
As Catholics, we firmly believe that God has a plan for our lives! He calls some to marriage, some to the priesthood, and others to religious life or to live as generous single people. Fully living our own vocations - and teaching young people how to discern God’s call - is a serious duty, but also a joyful one. During this week, please encourage the young people in your life - children, grandchildren, students, and friends - to be open if God calls them to priesthood or religious life.
May 8 is also MOTHER’S DAY in Australia
“Every vocation to the priesthood comes from the heart of God, but it passes through the heart of a mother.” (St. Pius X)
Prayer for Vocations
Gracious and loving God, help men and women of the universal church and our parish to hear the call of God to serve in the diocese of Armidale. Our needs are great, and our people are thirsting for your presence. Open the hearts of many, raise up faithful servants of the Gospel, dedicated holy priests, sisters, brothers, and deacons who will spend themselves for your people and their needs. Bless those who are serving now with courage and perseverance. Grant that many will be inspired by their example and faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 💖🙏💐
Easter Blessing Prayer for Families
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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