May 03, 2020
4th Sunday of Easter
Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is called Good Shepherd Sunday. Psalmist sings: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.†St. Peter writes: “For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of our souls.†Jesus says: “I am the gate for the sheep.†The pastoral metaphor of “God shepherding†finds expression in Sacred Scripture, in art and in music. The earliest depiction we have of Jesus in art is a carving of Jesus as a beardless shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulders. Lyrics in our parish hymnal poetically incorporate the image: Shepherd Me, O God. Shepherd of Souls. The King of Love My Shepherd Is.
I have a small statue of Jesus as Good Shepherd. I place holy cards from wakes under the statue with the prayer that Jesus will shepherd the deceased from death into life. I also have a great photo of Pope Francis with a lamb on his shoulders likely taken when he blessed sheep providing the wool for stoles given to Bishops when they are consecrated to shepherd. I use that photo when girls and boys make their first confession recalling the parable of Jesus searching for the lost and wandering sheep.
Although we are not accustomed to seeing shepherds and sheep, the image of Jesus as a Good Shepherd still resonates in our culture. Jesus providing, guiding, knowing, calling and risking his life for us rings true as we “walk in the dark valley.†I end my reflection with a prayer attributed to St. Patrick. Before Patrick was a missionary Bishop to Ireland, as a youth, he was kidnapped and taken there to tend sheep. The experience left a lasting impression.
I arise today through
God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to see before me,
God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me, God's host to secure me –
against snares of devils,
against temptations and vices,
against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me
ill, afar and anear,
alone and in a crowd...
Christ, be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit,
Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
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3rd Sunday of Easter
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5th Sunday of Easter
