I AM THE GATE OF THE SHEEPFOLD

4th Sunday of  Easter  - 'You had gone astray like sheep but now you have come back'

First Reading Acts 2:14,36-41 'God has made him both Lord and Christ'

On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: ‘The whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.’

Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, ‘What must we do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call to himself.’ He spoke to them for a long time using many arguments, and he urged them, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse generation.’ They were convinced by his arguments, and they accepted what he said and were baptised. That very day about three thousand were added to their number.

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading 1 Peter 2:20-25 You have come back to the shepherd of your souls

The merit, in the sight of God, is in bearing punishment patiently when you are punished after doing your duty.

This, in fact, is what you were called to do, because 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.

Gospel  John 10:1-10 I am the gate of the sheepfold

Jesus said:

‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.

’Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them. So Jesus spoke to them again: 

‘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.' 

Jesus, I trust in you. You are my Shepherd. You are the way, lead the way, I will follow you.  Lord, you said the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  Protect me Lord.  In you I have the fullness of joy.  You are my life. Virgin Mary, pray for me. Saint Joseph, pray for me. My Angel Guardian, pray for me. Let us pray the Rosary. Hail Mary full of grace.

AELF: 4ème Dimanche de Pâques JE SUIS LA PORTE DES BREBIS

 «Vous étiez errants comme des brebis ; mais à présent vous êtes retournés»

Évangile Jean 10, 1-10 « Je suis la porte des brebis »

En ce temps-là, Jésus déclara : 

« Amen, amen, je vous le dis : celui qui entre dans l’enclos des brebis sans passer par la porte, mais qui escalade par un autre endroit, celui-là est un voleur et un bandit. Celui qui entre par la porte, c’est le pasteur, le berger des brebis. Le portier lui ouvre, et les brebis écoutent sa voix. Ses brebis à lui, il les appelle chacune par son nom, et il les fait sortir. Quand il a poussé dehors toutes les siennes, il marche à leur tête, et les brebis le suivent, car elles connaissent sa voix. Jamais elles ne suivront un étranger, mais elles s’enfuiront loin de lui, car elles ne connaissent pas la voix des étrangers. » Jésus employa cette image pour s’adresser aux pharisiens, mais eux ne comprirent pas de quoi il leur parlait.

C’est pourquoi Jésus reprit la parole : 

« Amen, amen, je vous le dis : Moi, je suis la porte des brebis. Tous ceux qui sont venus avant moi sont des voleurs et des bandits ; mais les brebis ne les ont pas écoutés. Moi, je suis la porte. Si quelqu’un entre en passant par moi, il sera sauvé ; il pourra entrer ; il pourra sortir et trouver un pâturage. Le voleur ne vient que pour voler, égorger, faire périr. Moi, je suis venu pour que les brebis aient la vie, la vie en abondance. »

Jésus, j'ai confiance en toi. Tu es mon Berger. Tu es le chemin, guide-moi, je te suivrai. Seigneur, tu as dit que le voleur ne vient que pour voler, tuer et détruire. Protège-moi, Seigneur. En toi, je trouve la plénitude de la joie. Tu es ma vie. Vierge Marie, priez pour moi. Saint Joseph, priez pour moi. Mon Ange Gardien, priez pour moi. Prions le Rosaire. Je vous salue Marie, pleine de grâce.