4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my own sheep and my own know me. JN 10:14

ACTS 2:14,36-41 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Our sins crucified You. I am culpable for your death. I glory in the merits that You won for me by Your terrible sufferings, the abominations that You suffered even though You are the Son of God, for my sake, for my salvation, and the salvation of the world.

Every word of Peter's sermon is relevant to our times. We are called to live apart from this perverse generation that celebrates evil, calls evil good, and is doing its best to eradicate anything that is good and holy.

My Beloved Lord, so many baptized Catholics and Christians have turned away from the Truth, have abandoned virtuous living, and have embraced the toxic culture of death that we are living in. Hear the prayers of those who cry out to You night and day to have mercy on us and on the whole world. Send Your Holy Spirit once again and renew the face of the earth so those who have abandoned the faith may return and their witness will bring many more to believe in You, hope in You, and love You. Thank You.

1 PETER 2:20-25 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Almost every one of us refuses to acknowledge our guilt and if we are reprimanded and falsely accused we become belligerent, and make sure that everyone knows that we are innocent. Very few of us are prepared to be silent when we are upbraided and punished for things we didn't say or do. Peter reminds us that it is more important for us to be innocent in Your sight that in the eyes of the world. We ought to have the courage of our convictions and be prepared to suffer patiently all kinds of persecutions, punishment, and even death when we uphold the Truth and Gospel values and principles. 

The abominable sufferings You bore from the moment of Your nativity and until Your death teach us how to face the troubles of life. In this valley of tears, we are not promised a broad and easy road but much trouble and many difficulties that are necessary to purify and strengthen us for the journey. Suffering is the lot of all Christians and these sufferings we must accept joyfully if we are to image You in our lives. The more we imitate You the more we will become like You. Just as Your suffering drew the whole world to Yourself so too, my Lord, may our own courage and endurance in the face of injustice and persecution draw souls to You. Amen.

He had not done anything wrong, and there had been no perjury in his mouth. He was insulted and did not retaliate with insults; when he was tortured he made no threats but he put his trust in the righteous judge. He was bearing our faults in his own body on the cross, so that we might die to our faults and live for holiness; through his wounds you have been healed. You had gone astray like sheep but now you have come back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

JOHN 10:1-10 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You have come in order that all who believe in You may have life in abundance. You are the only Way by which we may enter into the Kingdom of God. Yours is the only voice we must listen to and follow but in the cacophony of voices present in the world, it is hard for us to pick out Your Voice from the many raucous voices that clamor for our attention. We can become familiar with Your Voice only if we make it a habit to come to You in prayer, to sit in Your Presence in silence, to read Your Word, meditate on it, contemplate Your Word and allow it to rule our life. Only then will be spared the wiles of the Enemy, he will be unable to deceive us. 

There are many false teachers and preachers in this world and Catholics especially those not truly grounded in doctrine and teaching should guard against them and heed only the voice of the shepherds You have appointed in Your Church. Grant us a mature, discerning faith that will enable us to recognize when the Enemy is attempting to ensnare us with false doctrine. You have given us Holy Mother Church in her we are assured to reach the end of life's journey in safety and claim the crown You have won for us. In You alone, Beloved, the fullness of life, the fullness of grace, the fullness of love, is found in You and in Your Church. Thank You for the gift of Holy Mother Church.

‘I tell you most solemnly,
I am the gate of the sheepfold.
All others who have come
are thieves and brigands;
but the sheep took no notice of them.
I am the gate.
Anyone who enters through me will be safe:
he will go freely in and out
and be sure of finding pasture.
The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come
so that they may have life and have it to the full.’