4th Sunday of Easter
- Year C
The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.
- The gospel for the day
- Some optional questions for reflection
- Prayers of Intercession
- Cluster Prayer
- The gospel of the week ahead with commentary
Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us. cluster.alpha@outlook.com
Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)
The gospel this week takes place in the temple. Just prior to this, the authorities there try to get Jesus to say in plain terms that he is the Christ, so that they can accuse him of blasphemy. Jesus doesn't deny that he is Christ, but instead says that he has shown them by word and deed who he is - they just don't believe. Jesus describes us all as sheep. He is the shepherd, someone who, by his words and actions, cares for and tends their flock. The difference between the sheep is that some can hear him and others cannot. The image of being a sheep is perhaps as important as that of Jesus as a shepherd. It is an image that requires humility - we do not normally think of ourselves as sheep. Perhaps that is what Jesus' adversaries lacked; they did not have the humility to see themselves as sheep, but continually sought to be seen as shepherds. In doing so, they listened only to themselves and not to the word of Christ. The shepherd would have been expected to protect their flock with their lives, and Jesus was to show his unconditional love on Calvary. The gospel presents us both, with the wonderful image of Jesus shepherding us safely to our ultimate destination and the contrasting image of the those who simply cannot hear the voice because their own interests and egos are too important. They are unable to follow Jesus in the way he wants to be followed.
- How often do we pray for the grace to honestly listen to what Jesus is saying without succumbing to the temptation of interpreting it to our advantage?
- Whom do you try to protect as Christ protects you?*
Prayers of Intercession
We pray for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that God will grant him every grace and blessing for his pontificate. Through his closeness to the Holy Spirit, may he lead the Church in love and peace and that the true shepherd emerges following Pope Francis’s teachings.
Lord in your mercy ... Hear your prayers
We know that we are loved by God, and so we try to listen to Jesus as we pray for the church throughout the world; that it may welcome and care for everyone as Jesus did - like the shepherd cares for his sheep.
Lord in your mercy ... Hear your prayers
Heavenly Father, we are your people, and we thank you for your care and protection, accept these prayers and bring to all for whom we have prayed your blessings of love, joy and peace. We ask this in the name of the true shepherd, your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Lord in your mercy ... Hear your prayers
Good Shepherd, save us from ourselves and our persistence in doing the same wrong things over and over again. We go fishing every day, and we fail to notice you waiting with a meal in the beach.
Lord in your mercy ... Hear your prayers
Good Shepherd, we pray for those in positions of authority and leaderships that they do not misuse their powers but respect and care for all their people and for natural resources of their countries. Help us to learn from one another's cultures and respect one another’s differences.
Lord in your mercy ... Hear your prayers
We pray for our parishes, family and friends; that we may listen to Jesus in our lives and treat all people as brothers and sisters. We remember all those who are sick in mind & body, the housebound and those in our care homes. All on the prayer foundation list we keep Fr Alex & Fr Nick in our prayers.
Lord in your mercy ... Hear your prayers
We pray for all those who have died recently and those who grieve them. We remember especially – Pope Francis, Gina O’Neill, Carmine De Feo, Eleanor Rowley, Linda Reid, Margaret Hadaway, Gerry Monaghan, Mary McAuley, Sr Christine Triay, Elaine Houliston, Anne Reilly. May they rest in peace in the arms of the Lord.
Lord in your mercy ... Hear your prayers
We will now say together the prayer to be missionary disciples.
Cluster prayer
Lord continue to bless our community in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey to grow from a maintenance church to a missionary church.
Give us the courage to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love that all who come here will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN
Gospel for the day - 4th Sunday of Easter
John 10:27-30 ‘I give eternal life to my sheep.’
At that time: Jesus said, ‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’
This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings.