Daily Retreat 04/29/07
2007 Apr 29 SUN: FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 13: 14. 43-52/ Ps 99(100): 1-2. 3. 5/ Rv 7: 9. 14b-17/ Jn 10: 27-30
From today's readings: "All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region.... We are His people, the sheep of His flock.... The Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.... My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. "
The Good Shepherd
The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as "Good Shepherd" Sunday, because the Gospel reading always is taken from the section in chapter 10 of St. John's Gospel, in which verses Jesus develops the metaphor of Himself as the Good Shepherd. The psalm takes up this imagery as well.
Paradoxically, Jesus is not just Shepherd, but also the Lamb of God. The second reading includes 2 of the 28 times in the Book of Revelation in which Jesus is referred to as the Lamb.
As Shepherd He leads us Himself, and feeds us. As Lamb, He feeds us Himself, and leads us!
Jesus our Good Shepherd said: "My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me!"
Follow Him where? To the Heavenly banquet! Jesus, the Lamb sacrificed for the salvation of the world, feeds us with His own Eucharistic flesh, and leads us where? As the Apocalypse mentions,
"For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes!"
Our Shepherd, and our Lamb. Happy, blessed are we who are part of His flock. Happy, blessed are we whom the Shepherd leads to the Banquet of the Lamb!
Acts 13: 14. 43-52/ Ps 99(100): 1-2. 3. 5/ Rv 7: 9. 14b-17/ Jn 10: 27-30
From today's readings: "All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region.... We are His people, the sheep of His flock.... The Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.... My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. "
The Good Shepherd
The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as "Good Shepherd" Sunday, because the Gospel reading always is taken from the section in chapter 10 of St. John's Gospel, in which verses Jesus develops the metaphor of Himself as the Good Shepherd. The psalm takes up this imagery as well.
Paradoxically, Jesus is not just Shepherd, but also the Lamb of God. The second reading includes 2 of the 28 times in the Book of Revelation in which Jesus is referred to as the Lamb.
As Shepherd He leads us Himself, and feeds us. As Lamb, He feeds us Himself, and leads us!
Jesus our Good Shepherd said: "My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me!"
Follow Him where? To the Heavenly banquet! Jesus, the Lamb sacrificed for the salvation of the world, feeds us with His own Eucharistic flesh, and leads us where? As the Apocalypse mentions,
"For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes!"
Our Shepherd, and our Lamb. Happy, blessed are we who are part of His flock. Happy, blessed are we whom the Shepherd leads to the Banquet of the Lamb!
posted by FrPitstick | 4/24/2007
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