Contemplating God’s love for us on this Good Shepherd Sunday
Reflections on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 25, 2021): ACTS 4:8-12; PS 118,1,8-9,21-23,26,28,29; 1 JN 3:1-2; JN 10:11-18
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Our Redeemer is the only Begotten Son of our Eternal Father, yet all of us are dear His children as well.
The liturgical readings for today speak eloquently of the profound love that God has for His people. “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.… What we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:1-2). We are not called simply the people of God, but also His children. This is surely a treasure beyond our limited human comprehension. Our Heavenly Father does not call us His children simply because His fondness for us because He made us. Rather, He has always loved us, even knowing that by entrusting us with reason and free will, we humans would allow our self-centeredness to turn us away from Him.
Just as God chose each of us for Himself, He wants us to choose Him for ourselves. And the more we open ourselves to His mercy and His will, the more we emulate His goodness and holiness. In the way that children often take after their parents in certain matters, so we can come to resemble Him. As faithful, grateful, and generous children of God, we will eventually be revealed as made in His image of love and loveliness. Our Redeemer is the only Begotten Son of our Eternal Father, yet all of us are dear His children as well. On this Sunday when we celebrate Christ as the Good Shepherd, let us understand the image of His tender care for His sheep as our loving Lord constantly looking after our well being, both body and spirit. He who suffered death for our sake also embraces us with His compassion, longing for us to be truly His in time and in eternity.
Suggested missionary action: Let us ask our Lord to grant us a greater appreciation of the gift of our faith. Let us pray that the light of our belief in Christ shines through us and through all His children who follow Him so that ever more people will be drawn to Him.