Phil

May 3, 20207 min read

4TH SUNDAY IN EASTERTIDE

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION FOR TODAY, GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

True Christians follow the True Shepherd: they recognize His voice and they obey His commands. They hear His message about loving enemies, about seeking first the kingdom of God, about forgiving seventy times a day. When we have failed to heed the voice of the Good Shepherd, let us confess our sins.

I confess to almighty God

and to my brothers and sisters in Christ,

that I have greatly sinned,

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,

through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints,

and my brothers and sisters in Christ,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May Almighty God have mercy on us, ✠ forgive us our sins,

and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

TODAY’S COLLECT Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock may 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.

READING:1 Peter 2:20-25 Christ suffered for you and left an example for you to follow the way he took. 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.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 22(23)

The Lord is my shepherd:

there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit.

The Lord is my shepherd:

there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff;

with these you give me comfort.

The Lord is my shepherd:

there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing.

The Lord is my shepherd:

there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and kindness

shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for ever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd:

there is nothing I shall want.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION - Jn10:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;

I know my own sheep and my own know me.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL: John 10:5-10 Jesus spoke to them:‘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.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

HOMILY – Fr John Foley,

St.Louisville University Catholic Chaplaincy

History tells us that in Jesus’ time the many shepherds all brought their small flocks down to Jerusalem and that they kept these together in one big sheepfold. There were no brands, no markings of any kind, just a fuzzy mob. How, you might ask, would each shepherd retrieve the sheep that belonged to him? The shepherd knew each of his sheep by name. He had been with them on the hillsides, and when they heard their names, they got up and followed. He knew their personalities, their quirks, their individuality.

Likewise the sheep recognized the voice of the shepherd, the one who shielded them from wolves, the one who led them to fresh pastures, the one they could trust. The Good Shepherd calls us by name, He knows each and every one of us better than we know ourselves. Christ our Good Shepherd calls and our fears drop away. We can trust Him to lead us – we are wise to listen to His voice.

THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, At the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin Mary, all bow. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

INTERCESSION

We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.

Jesus, light of the world,

bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations …

Jesus, bread of life,

give food to the hungry …

and nourish us all with your word.

Jesus, our way, our truth, our life,

be with us and all who follow you in the way …

We pray for our Bishops and all who are called

to be Shepherds within the Church.

We pray for more to hear the call of the Good Shepherd

and to offer their lives in Christ's service.

Deepen our appreciation of your truth

and fill us with your life.

Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep,

in this pandemic,

be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.

In their loneliness, be their consolation;

in their anxiety, be their hope;

in their darkness, be their light;

and lead the healthy and strong to new pastures.

Jesus, the resurrection and the life,

we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you …

Raise us with them to eternal life.

We ask Mary to pray with us, as we with her

bring our care for the situation in which we find ourselves

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of our death.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

This is holy space

God is here - you are welcome

This is your space to be with God And God's space to be with you

Make yourself at home

Be yourself

Be real

There's no rush

Let God love you

Let God know you

Let God heal you

Let God speak to you

Receive from God

Commune with God…..

Sit for a moment in silence

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God;

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,

through Christ our Lord.

For by the mystery of his passion

Jesus Christ, your risen Son,

has conquered the powers of death and hell

and restored in men and women the image of your glory.

He has placed them once more in paradise

and opened to them the gate of life eternal.

And so, in the joy of this Passover,

earth and heaven resound with gladness,

while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation

sing for ever the hymn of your glory.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

At the Saviour’s command

and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

graciously grant peace in our days,

that, by the help of your mercy,

we may be always free from sin

and safe from all distress,

as we await the blessed hope

and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles:

Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,

look not on our sins,

but on the faith of your Church,

and graciously grant her peace and unity

in accordance with your will.

Who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

grant us peace.

Time to sit quietly to receive the Lord’s Presence spiritually.

“My Jesus, I believe that You are present

in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.

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,”

Pope Francis prayed this on March 21

in his televised daily Mass from the Vatican.

Look upon your flock, kind Shepherd, and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures the sheep you have redeemed by the Precious Blood of your Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.