LITURGY OF THE WORD- 4TH OF HYMN

ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL

All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell, Come ye before him and rejoice.

Know that the Lord is God indeed; Without our aid he did us make; We are his folk, he doth us feed, And for his sheep he doth us take.

INTRODUCTION

All sign themselves with the sign of the cross saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Leader: Let us praise God, who fills our hearts and home with peace. Blessed be God for ever.

All respond: Blessed be God for ever.

Sing or recite the Gloria together:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

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For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Leader: Let us pray,

Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. READINGS

It is encouraged that someone other than the leader should proclaim the readings of the day from a Bible. Otherwise, daily readings may be found at usccb.org/bible/readings, and audio recordings of the daily readings may be found at usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm.

First reading: Acts 2:14A, 36-41

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23: 1-3A, 3B4, 5, 6

Refrain (all together): The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or Alleluia.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.

Refrain (all together): The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or Alleluia.

He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage.

Refrain (all together): The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or Alleluia.

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You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Refrain (all together): The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or Alleluia.

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

Refrain (all together): The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or Alleluia.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:20B-25

Gospel (All stand for the reading of the Gospel. A layperson omits the greeting, “The Lord be with you” and proceeds to “A reading from the holy Gospel According to ….”): John 10:1-10

REFLECTION ON THE READINGS

This week we have a reflection from Sr. Anthonia Asayoma, OSF (Franciscan Sisters of the ):

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is also Good Shepherd Sunday. Being Good Shepherd Sunday, it is designated as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Today we remember to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. As this is rooted in the vocation to the married life, we should endeavor to pray for parents too because they are the initial good shepherd of their respective families, the domestic church.

In the Old Testament God is often figuratively portrayed as a Shepherd (Psalms 23). God manifests and reveals himself gradually to the human race to demonstrate his love and care. This revelation became clearer and substantiated in Jesus Christ. Today, as we read in the Gospel, Jesus is coming to us as the Good Shepherd.

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus is the gate to the Father. He has come to lead us to God his Father and our Father. Jesus’s opponents among the Jews were unable to see Jesus in this figurative image. They could not allude to this symbolic truth about him. The Pharisees distorted the truth as announced by the Prophets. As a Good Shepherd, Jesus gave his life for his sheep. Those who respond to this call will be the beneficiaries of this special privilege.

Today’s first reading reminds us of the events that happened before Christ’s crucifixion. A flashback of what happened between Peter and Jesus on . Peter denied Jesus Christ. Peter did not allow his action to end with the denial, he wept and asked for forgiveness (Luke 22:59-62). This same Peter is seen today instructing people to ask for forgiveness of their sins. Peter, after the resurrection later affirmed three times his love for Jesus (John 21:15-17). So, Peter was connected with the people of Jerusalem in denying and accepting Christ and wants them to equally share in his salvific gift. Those who yielded to Peter’s appeal were baptized and added into

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Christ’s fold. They were called upon to see Christ as their model by putting behind them sinfulness and seek righteousness (Second Reading).

Jesus as the door, means through him alone, we can go and have access to the Father. Jesus has come to show us the way to the Father. He has come to demonstrate to us how God looks like, in love and in compassion. He is the only door that leads to God. He is the stone which the builders rejected but has become the cornerstone (Psalms 118:22). As a Shepherd, he has come so that we may have life in abundance by sacrificing his life for us. So, we need to know who Christ is and follow him so as to experience abundant living.

Let us therefore build a strong faith relationship around Jesus, the Good Shepherd. We need to seek to know him more intimately. Faith in Jesus is helpful. Jesus as a Good Shepherd is full of compassion, mercy and love.

Additionally, you can also find video reflections from the USCCB on the readings here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/.

Observe a period of silence for reflection on the Word of God. You may want to ask the following questions:

What word or phrase is stirring in your heart? How can you apply this message to your daily life?

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Leader: The Son of God who invites us to live by his Light stands ready to banish our darkness, let us call upon him in our need.

You or members of your family can be invited to speak out their intercessions, to which all reply, “Lord, hear our prayer.” It would be good to include a prayer for the end of the coronavirus pandemic and a return to public Sunday Eucharist.

Leader: Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Response: Amen.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

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ACT OF THANKSGIVING

Make a prayer of thanksgiving. This can be your own personal prayer of thanksgiving, a canticle of praise from scripture, or you may choose one of the following Psalms: ; Psalm 113; Psalm 118:1-4, 19-29; Psalm 136; Psalm 150

CONCLUDING RITE

In solidarity with our diocese, here you could include Pope Francis’ prayer to Mary for protection against the coronavirus found at the beginning of the Diocese of Owensboro Prayer Companion.

Leader: May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

All sign themselves with the cross.

Response: Amen

As an option here, you could add “Let us offer each other the sign of peace,” extending a sign of Christ’s peace to your loved ones by way of a hug, kiss, or whatever would be most appropriate for your situation.

HYMN

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Sing praise, all creatures here below; Joined with the praise of heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

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