HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C (6)

HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C

THEME: Let us follow Jesus the Good Shepherd, so that his salvation may reach the ends of the earth.

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY MAY 8 2022

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Acts 13:14,43-52
Apocalypse 7:9,14-17
John 10:27-30

*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Easter, this Sunday is called Good Shepherd Sunday, or also known as the Vocation Sunday. It is a day when we are asked to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially in our own respective Dioceses. It is also a day when we are asked to reflect on our own baptismal vocation.

*ABOUT THE FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, we heard from the Acts of Paul and Barnabas who preached about the Lord and His truth in the synagogue. They spoke to a large gathering of both Jewish people and the non-Jewish people, the Gentiles. But their efforts in attracting so many people especially the Gentiles caused some among the Jews to be jealous and hostile to their popularity.

*ABOUT THE SECOND READING*
In our second reading today, we heard from the Book of Revelations , detailing what John had seen in the series of visions he received at the island of Patmos during his exile there. John saw the vision of innumerable holy men and women from across all time and places, all gathered together to proclaim the Lord and glorify Him, to praise Him on His Throne, as John saw Him, the victorious Lamb of God, Who has won the ultimate victory over sin, evil and death, and by His sacrifice on the Cross.

*ABOUT THE GOSPEL READING*
In today’s gospel reading Jesus states, ‘the sheep that belong to me listen to my voice’. And Jesus continues in the same reading by saying, ‘I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me’. It is only by listening to the Lord, as he listens to us, that we will come to know him, as he knows us. Listening to the Lord, in that deep sense, is an important aspect of what it means to be his follower.

*CONCLUSION*
Dear brethrens, on this Good Shepherd and Vocation Sunday, let us ask the Lord, our Good Shepherd, to guide us all and to give us the strength and courage so that we all can be faithful shepherds, role models and examples for one another in faith. Let our actions, words and deeds be inspiration at all times, and let more and more people come to believe in God through us. May each one of us devote more of our time and effort to follow our vocations in life, and may God, our loving Good Shepherd bless each one of us and be with us always,
I wish you all a Blessed Good Shepherd and Vocation Sunday.

Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA