Mass Reading: Sunday - 11th May 2025

First reading
Acts 13:14,43-52
'We must turn to the pagans'

    Paul and Barnabas carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats. 

    When the meeting broke up many Jews and devout converts joined Paul and Barnabas, and in their talks with them Paul and Barnabas urged them to remain faithful to the grace God had given them.

    The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:

    I have made you a light for the nations,
so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’

    It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.

    But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 99(100):1-3,5

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
    Serve the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing for joy.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
    He made us, we belong to him,
    we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
    eternal his merciful love.
    He is faithful from age to age.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

 

________

Second reading
Apocalypse 7:9,14-17
The Lamb will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water

    I, John, saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. One of the elders said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and because they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb, they now stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his sanctuary; and the One who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. They will never hunger or thirst again; neither the sun nor scorching wind will ever plague them, because the Lamb who is at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.’

The word of the Lord.

________

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 10:27-30
I know my sheep and they follow me

Jesus said:

‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;
I know them and they follow me.
I give them eternal life;
they will never be lost
and no one will ever steal them from me.
The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,
and no one can steal from the Father.
The Father and I are one.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 11th May 2025

 

ACTS 13:14, 43-52; PS 100: 1-3,5; REV 7:9, 14B-17; JN 10:27-30

Throughout the Easter season, our readings have given us glimpses into the life of the newborn Church and the bold witness of the early disciples in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who would listen.

These disciples were the first to live a stewardship way of life. Their example is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago to inspire and guide us modern-day disciples.

In the First Reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we catch up with Paul and Barnabas in Antioch. While they certainly have some success in reaching many people there with the message of salvation, others are downright infuriated by their words and send them packing. Yet, we read the following verse to describe their reaction to this turn of events: “The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” Overall, it seems as if Paul and Barnabas had failed in Antioch. But this witnessing of failure has not robbed them of their joy. What’s more, they are filled to the brim with the abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit. How is this possible?

It is only possible because Paul and Barnabas saw themselves as nothing more and nothing less than stewards of Christ and His Good News. This realization brought them freedom — to offer themselves and their lives to others for the sake of the Gospel. The “results” of their efforts were up to God. They knew the Holy Spirit would never abandon them when their lives were focused on serving God and others and as a result, they experienced a profound sense of joy that does not depend on external circumstances, a joy the world cannot give.

This Spirit-filled, joy-filled life is available to all of us, all these years later. It can be achieved when we recognize, as did Paul and Barnabas, that all we have and all we are is a gift from God, meant to be shared with others for His glory. Of course, living as God’s stewards does not mean a life of ease or a life free of sacrifice. Sometimes the steward’s life involves great challenges, requiring all the strength and love one has to give. But in the end, there is simply no more satisfying way to live.

How can we grow in our identity as Christian stewards so that we, too, can be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit? The Gospel reading today tells us: we must live in trust and dependence on Jesus, our Shepherd. When we cling tightly to Him by freeing ourselves from holding on too tightly to our “stuff,” our time, and our achievements, we can hear His voice. He says so Himself: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” He knows us! He laid down His life for us to give us eternal life with Him. He will never ask anything of us that will harm us. A stewardship way of life is meant only to enrich us.

So, this week let us resolve to take a step towards less concern about ourselves and greater trust in Him. We will become joy-filled, Spirit-filled stewards of His good news everywhere we go.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 21st April 2024

First reading
Acts 4:8-12
The name of Jesus Christ is the only name in which we can be saved

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter said: ‘Rulers of the people, and elders! If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a cripple, and asking us how he was healed, then I am glad to tell you all, and would indeed be glad to tell the whole people of Israel, that it was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the one you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up perfectly healthy, here in your presence, today. This is the stone rejected by you the builders, but which has proved to be the keystone. For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 117(118):1,8-9,21-23,26,28-29

The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
    for his love has no end.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in men;
it is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.

 I will thank you for you have answered
    and you are my saviour.
The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
    a marvel in our eyes.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.

Blessed in the name of the Lord
    is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
You are my God, I thank you.
    My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
    for his love has no end.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.

 ________

Second reading
1 John 3:1-2
We shall be like God because we shall see him as he really is

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
by letting us be called God’s children;
and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed
we shall be like him
because we shall see him as he really is.

The word of the Lord.

________

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 10:11-18
The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep

Jesus said:

‘I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.
The hired man, since he is not the shepherd
and the sheep do not belong to him,
abandons the sheep and runs away
as soon as he sees a wolf coming,
and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep;
this is because he is only a hired man
and has no concern for the sheep.

‘I am the good shepherd;
I know my own
and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me
and I know the Father;
and I lay down my life for my sheep.
And there are other sheep I have
that are not of this fold,
and these I have to lead as well.
They too will listen to my voice,
and there will be only one flock,
and one shepherd.

‘The Father loves me,
because I lay down my life
in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me;
I lay it down of my own free will,
and as it is in my power to lay it down,
so it is in my power to take it up again;
and this is the command I have been given by my Father.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

\

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 21st April 2024

ACTS 4:8-12; PS 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29; 1 JN 3:1-2; JN 10:11-18

On this fourth Sunday of Easter, we hear that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. In Jesus’ time, a shepherd was someone who protected and guided his sheep. Jesus does this for us and so much more. He is the Shepherd that lays down His life for His sheep. This message calls us to reflect inward — do we allow Jesus to shepherd our lives?

In our Gospel Jesus reveals His radical love for us. He says, “A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep…I am the good shepherd… and I will lay down my life for the sheep.” Jesus tells us that we are His. We can compare this relationship to that of a loving parent to their child. The parent does not receive payment for nurturing and guiding their child. They constantly give without much in return. And if any evil came near the child, the parent would do anything, even lay down their life for the baby that is their own.

We are Christ’s, even more than a child is to a parent. He created us, brought us forth into the world, and sustains our lives each day. Evil persists in our world so Jesus willingly laid down His life for us at Calvary so that we might be saved. He is our Shepherd, whether we remain in His flock or go astray. Whether we accept His care, protection, and guidance or not, He is our Good Shepherd.

But just as a baby is happiest in the arms of a parent, so too are we happiest in the flock of our Shepherd. And just as sheep go astray or try to test their boundaries, we also stray from God, test our limits and even follow false shepherds. Let us look inward and examine our hearts for the times we might have stopped faithfully praying or coming to Mass each week or let money, status, or anything else rule our lives.

Thankfully our Shepherd is a Good Shepherd, and He laid down His life for us knowing every sin we will ever commit. Therefore, let us examine our hearts and return to our flock. We don’t even need to find the way. He is right there always waiting to guide us home.

As Peter states in our first reading, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” Jesus is our true Shepherd. There is no other way to happiness or salvation than to remain in His flock. At times it will be challenging to do so. Complacency and sin are enticing, yet every moment we choose Him or return to Him, we will experience peace and freedom that no false independence will suffice. It is through dependence on our Shepherd that we will become liberated.

Let us look inward this week and ask ourselves, ‘who is my Shepherd?’ and ‘have I gone astray?’ Name the areas in your life that you have neglected and ask Jesus to bring you home. Pray for His mercy, seek His forgiveness in the sacraments and begin again. Remember that we are His and He is ready for us to come home, as He says, “I know mine, and mine know me.”

Mass Reading: Sunday - 30th April 2023

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.

The word of the Lord.

________

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.

________

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.

The word of the Lord.

________

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 10:1-10
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.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 30th April 2023

ACTS 2:14A, 36-41; PS 23:1-3A, 3B4-6; 1 PT 2:20B-25; JN 10:1-10

Today’s readings on this fourth Sunday of Easter offer us a glimpse into the heart of our loving Savior. He is the Good Shepherd and we can confidently place our trust in Him as we live the stewardship way of life.

 

In both the first and second readings, we find Peter embracing his role as leader of the newborn Church. In our first reading from Acts, he exhorts the crowd, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” We then read that the ones who accepted his message were baptized that day. Peter simply proposed the Good News to them and then left them free to accept or reject the call to repentance and belief in Christ, which is ultimately a call from God.

 

We can find many parallels in this passage to the call to a stewardship way of life. We, too, are free to accept or reject God’s call to discipleship. We can keep our time, talents, and treasure for ourselves, purely to serve our own interests. We are free to make that choice.

 

Or, we can embrace the call to discipleship through the stewardship way of life. If we do so, we will find a path to freedom from “this corrupt generation” just as those first disciples found in the early days of the Church.

 

Our second reading, again featuring St. Peter, offers further motivation for embracing this way of life. Peter reminds us that Christ, “bore our sins in his body upon the cross.” And that, “by his wounds you have been healed. For [we] had gone astray like sheep but… have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of [our] souls.” Such an incredibly poignant description of the love our Savior has for us and the kind of relationship He desires to have with us — as shepherd and guardian of our souls.

 

This endearing image of Jesus as shepherd, and His personal love for each one of us, is expanded in our Gospel passage from John, through the words of Jesus Himself. Here we read Jesus’ description of Himself as the “Good Shepherd.” He says of Himself, “The sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.”

 

This aspect of our Lord’s tender and personal love for each one of us is yet another reason to embrace the stewardship way of life — in the offering of our time, talent, and treasure to Him, we can express our gratitude to Him for the incomprehensible love He has for us.

 

Embracing the stewardship way of life certainly requires trust on our part. But Christ has proven Himself worthy of our trust. He “bore our sins in His body.” He calls Himself our shepherd and He offers Himself as the guardian of our souls. He has withheld nothing of Himself and His goodness from us. He would never ask anything of us that would bring us harm.

 

On the contrary. Our Lord did not come to take from us, but to give to us. Again, we read His own words from the Gospel passage, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

 

This Easter season, let us resolve to freely give all of ourselves and our lives gratefully to Him.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 08th May 2022

The Liturgy of the Word

First reading
Acts 13:14,43-52
'We must turn to the pagans'

    Paul and Barnabas carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats. 

    When the meeting broke up many Jews and devout converts joined Paul and Barnabas, and in their talks with them Paul and Barnabas urged them to remain faithful to the grace God had given them.

    The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:

    I have made you a light for the nations,
so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’

    It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.

    But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 99(100):1-3,5

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
    Serve the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing for joy.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
    He made us, we belong to him,
    we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
    eternal his merciful love.
    He is faithful from age to age.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

________

Second reading
Apocalypse 7:9,14-17
The Lamb will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water

I, John, saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. One of the elders said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and because they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb, they now stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his sanctuary; and the One who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. They will never hunger or thirst again; neither the sun nor scorching wind will ever plague them, because the Lamb who is at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.’

The word of the Lord.

________

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 10:27-30
I know my sheep and they follow me

Jesus said:

‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;
I know them and they follow me.

I give them eternal life;

they will never be lost
and no one will ever steal them from me.

The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,
and no one can steal from the Father.

The Father and I are one.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 08th May 2022

ACTS 13:14, 43-52; PS 100: 1-3,5; REV 7:9, 14B-17; JN 10:27-30 

Throughout the Easter season, our readings have given us glimpses into the life of the newborn Church and the bold witness of the early disciples in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who would listen. 
 
These disciples were the first to live a stewardship way of life. Their example is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago to inspire and guide us modern-day disciples. 
 
In the First Reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we catch up with Paul and Barnabas in Antioch. While they certainly have some success in reaching many people there with the message of salvation, others are downright infuriated by their words and send them packing. Yet, we read the following verse to describe their reaction to this turn of events: “The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” Overall, it seems as if Paul and Barnabas had failed in Antioch. But this witnessing of failure has not robbed them of their joy. What’s more, they are filled to the brim with the abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit. How is this possible? 
 
It is only possible because Paul and Barnabas saw themselves as nothing more and nothing less than stewards of Christ and His Good News. This realization brought them freedom — to offer themselves and their lives to others for the sake of the Gospel. The “results” of their efforts were up to God. They knew the Holy Spirit would never abandon them when their lives were focused on serving God and others and as a result, they experienced a profound sense of joy that does not depend on external circumstances, a joy the world cannot give.
 
This Spirit-filled, joy-filled life is available to all of us, all these years later. It can be achieved when we recognize, as did Paul and Barnabas, that all we have and all we are is a gift from God, meant to be shared with others for His glory. Of course, living as God’s stewards does not mean a life of ease or a life free of sacrifice. Sometimes the steward’s life involves great challenges, requiring all the strength and love one has to give. But in the end, there is simply no more satisfying way to live.
 
How can we grow in our identity as Christian stewards so that we, too, can be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit? The Gospel reading today tells us: we must live in trust and dependence on Jesus, our Shepherd.  When we cling tightly to Him by freeing ourselves from holding on too tightly to our “stuff,” our time, and our achievements, we can hear His voice. He says so Himself: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” He knows us! He laid down His life for us to give us eternal life with Him. He will never ask anything of us that will harm us. A stewardship way of life is meant only to enrich us.
 
So, this week let us resolve to take a step towards less concern about ourselves and greater trust in Him. We will become joy-filled, Spirit-filled stewards of His good news everywhere we go.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 25th April 2021

ACTS 4:8-12; PS 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29; 1 JN 3:1-2; JN 10:11-18

On this fourth Sunday of Easter, we hear that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. In Jesus’ time, a shepherd was someone who protected and guided his sheep. Jesus does this for us and so much more. He is the Shepherd that lays down His life for His sheep. This message calls us to reflect inward — do we allow Jesus to shepherd our lives?
 
In our Gospel Jesus reveals His radical love for us. He says, “A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep…I am the good shepherd… and I will lay down my life for the sheep.” Jesus tells us that we are His. We can compare this relationship to that of a loving parent to their child. The parent does not receive payment for nurturing and guiding their child. They constantly give without much in return. And if any evil came near the child, the parent would do anything, even lay down their life for the baby that is their own. 
 
We are Christ’s, even more than a child is to a parent. He created us, brought us forth into the world, and sustains our lives each day. Evil persists in our world so Jesus willingly laid down His life for us at Calvary so that we might be saved. He is our Shepherd, whether we remain in His flock or go astray. Whether we accept His care, protection, and guidance or not, He is our Good Shepherd. 
 
But just as a baby is happiest in the arms of a parent, so too are we happiest in the flock of our Shepherd. And just as sheep go astray or try to test their boundaries, we also stray from God, test our limits and even follow false shepherds. Let us look inward and examine our hearts for the times we might have stopped faithfully praying or coming to Mass each week or let money, status, or anything else rule our lives. 
 
Thankfully our Shepherd is a Good Shepherd, and He laid down His life for us knowing every sin we will ever commit. Therefore, let us examine our hearts and return to our flock. We don’t even need to find the way. He is right there always waiting to guide us home. 
 
 As Peter states in our first reading, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” Jesus is our true Shepherd. There is no other way to happiness or salvation than to remain in His flock. At times it will be challenging to do so. Complacency and sin are enticing, yet every moment we choose Him or return to Him, we will experience peace and freedom that no false independence will suffice. It is through dependence on our Shepherd that we will become liberated. 
 
Let us look inward this week and ask ourselves, ‘who is my Shepherd?’ and ‘have I gone astray?’ Name the areas in your life that you have neglected and ask Jesus to bring you home. Pray for His mercy, seek His forgiveness in the sacraments and begin again. Remember that we are His and He is ready for us to come home, as He says, “I know mine, and mine know me.”

The Liturgy of the Word: Sunday, 25th April 2021

First reading
Acts 4:8-12
The name of Jesus Christ is the only name in which we can be saved

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter said: ‘Rulers of the people, and elders! If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a cripple, and asking us how he was healed, then I am glad to tell you all, and would indeed be glad to tell the whole people of Israel, that it was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the one you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up perfectly healthy, here in your presence, today. This is the stone rejected by you the builders, but which has proved to be the keystone. For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 117(118):1,8-9,21-23,26,28-29

The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
    for his love has no end.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in men;
it is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.

I will thank you for you have answered
    and you are my saviour.
The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
    a marvel in our eyes.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.

Blessed in the name of the Lord
    is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
You are my God, I thank you.
    My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
    for his love has no end.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.

Second reading
1 John 3:1-2
We shall be like God because we shall see him as he really is

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
by letting us be called God’s children;
and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed
we shall be like him
because we shall see him as he really is.

The word of the Lord.

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 10:11-18
The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep

Jesus said:

‘I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.
The hired man, since he is not the shepherd
and the sheep do not belong to him,
abandons the sheep and runs away
as soon as he sees a wolf coming,
and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep;
this is because he is only a hired man
and has no concern for the sheep.

‘I am the good shepherd;
I know my own
and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me
and I know the Father;
and I lay down my life for my sheep.
And there are other sheep I have
that are not of this fold,
and these I have to lead as well.
They too will listen to my voice,
and there will be only one flock,
and one shepherd.

‘The Father loves me,
because I lay down my life
in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me;
I lay it down of my own free will,
and as it is in my power to lay it down,
so it is in my power to take it up again;
and this is the command I have been given by my Father.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Readings - Sunday, 03rd May 2020

FIRST  READING 
A reading  from  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles     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  them  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.

The  Word  of  the  Lord. 


Responsorial  Psalm    Ps  22 

Response:        The  Lord  is  my  shepherd;  there  is  nothing  I  shall  want. 

1. 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.             

2. 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.       

3. You have  prepared  a  banquet  for  me in  the  sight  of  my  foes. My head  you  have  anointed  with  oil; my cup is  overflowing.   
                     
4. 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.     


                         
SECOND  READING     
A  reading  from  the  first  letter  of  St  Peter      2:20-25      

You  have  come back to the  shepherd  of  your  souls.  

The  merit,  in  the  sight  of  God,  is  in  bearing  it  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.

The Word  of  the  Lord. 



Gospel  Acclamation     Jn  10:  14      
Alleluia,  alleluia! 
I am the good  shepherd;  I  know  my  own and  my own know me.
Alleluia! 


GOSPEL 
A reading  from  the  Gospel  according  to  John     10:1-10 

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.

The Gospel of  the  Lord. 

Mass Readings - Sunday, 12th May 2019

Liturgical Readings
Today's Readings
Léachtaí Gaeilge

FIRST READING    Acts of the Apostles 13:14. 43-52
We must turn to the pagans.

Paul and Barnabas carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they
went to synagogue on the sabbath and took their seats.
When the meeting broke up many Jews and devout converts joined Paul and Barnabas
and in their talks with them Paul and Barnabas urged them to remain faithful to the
grace God had given them.
The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When
they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and
contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had
to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not
think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the
Lord commanded us to do when he said:
“I have made you a light for the nations,
so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.”
It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message;
all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord
spread through the whole countryside.
But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the
leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and
expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and
went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

The Word of the Lord


RESPONSORIAL    PSALM PS 99

Response We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

1. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.                      Response

2. Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.            Response

3. Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.

He is faithful from age to age.                              Response


SECOND READING    Apocalypse 7:9.14-17
The Lamb will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water.

I, John saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe
and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb,
dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted aloud, I
answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who
have been through the great persecution, and because they have washed their robes
white again in the blood of the Lamb, they now stand in front of God’s throne and serve
him day and night in his sanctuary; and the One who sits on the throne will spread his
tent over them. They will never hunger or thirst again; neither the sun nor scorching
wind will ever plague them, because the Lamb who is at the throne will be their
shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away all tears
from their eyes.’


The Word of the Lord


Gospel Acclamation    Jn 10: 14

Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the good shepherd;
I know my own and my own know me
Alleluia!



THE GOSPEL    John 10:27-30
I give eternal life to the sheep that belong to me.

Jesus said:
‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;
I know them and they follow me.
I give them eternal life;
they will never be lost
and no one will ever steal them from me.
The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,
and no one can steal from the Father.
The Father and I are one.’


The Gospel of the Lord.