Liturgical Readings for : Sunday, 21st April, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Day of Prayer for Vocations
This is Good Shepherd Sunday, a day of special prayer for vocations to the work of service in the Church.
Christ is the good shepherd who has given his life for his sheep. Salvation is to be found in no one else but him.
He is the one shepherd of one flock. He has laid down his life that all might be saved.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book Acts of the Apostles 4:8.12 .
This is the only one by which we can be saved.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter said:
‘Rulers of the people, and elders! If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a cripple, and asking us how he was healed, then I am glad to tell you all, and would indeed be glad to tell the whole people of Israel, that it was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the one you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up perfectly healthy, here in your presence today. This is the stone rejected by you the builders, but which has proved to be the keystone. For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 117
Response The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.
or Alleluia!
1. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men:
it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Response
2. I will thank you for you have given answer and you are my saviour.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. Response
3. Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
I will thank you for you have given answer and you are my saviour.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love has no end. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St John 3:1-2
We shall see God as he really is.
Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him
because we shall see him as he really is.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation Jn 10: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 10:11-18 Glory to you, O Lord
The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
Jesus said:
‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.
The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him,
abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming,
and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep;
this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I lay down my life for my sheep.
And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well.
They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd.
The Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will,
and as it is in my power to lay it down, so it is in my power to take it up again;
and this is the command I have been given by my Father.’
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.Donal Neary SJ
Gospel Reflections
Called at Baptism
Following one’s vocation is a response from within to the needs outside us. A decision to work for the poor or assist people in need is not necessarily a vocation. A vocation meets the human needs of the world but with a motivation from within. We care for our children and grandchildren not just because they are sick or insecure, but because we love them. this love will move us out to help them in various situations.
We find a call to be ‘people for others’ because our heart teaches us that with Jesus we are all brothers and sisters, and that God wants to save the world, and needs our help to do so.
This is the Sunday we all pray that our particular vocation in life may become clear and may become stronger.
God calls each of us to love God and love our neighbour. This is the first Christian calling at our Baptism; we then find the best way for each of us with our own particular set of gifts, talents and even weaknesses to live out that call to love.
We think especially today of religious life and priesthood. There are needs for priests, sisters and brothers in most parts of the world. as a community in families and parishes we thank those who have given their lives in these vocations and pray they may increase.
Remember with thanks those whose lives
have given you your faith in God.
Lord, thanks for what I can do in your service.
May your kingdom come!
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Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd
