April 21, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 4:8-12
Psalm 118
1 John 3: 1-2
John 10: 11-18
Good Shepherd Sunday
Have any of you ever met a shepherd?
Where we live, Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we are not very agrarian or pastoral. We do not raise vegetables or livestock. Perhaps it is difficult to relate to the image of shepherd. Yet, many of you own pets and surely know you must take care of them. They are dependent on you. Their quality of life depends on you.
Well, God has great concern for all His creation, especially we human beings. God the Father has given His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit that flows from both of them. The Holy Spirit keeps on guiding us through the One, Holy, Apostolic Church.
The Father’s love is extended to all. It was incarnate in Jesus. Now the Church guided by the Holy Spirit continues to do God’s mercy. This is seen in the Acts of the Apostles.
God’s power to make people whole is given to us. We are to use it well. Making things whole extends to all of God’s creation, all of nature. It is logical to extend God’s work to others at all times. The obligation to do so is not limited.
The second reading teaches we are to take Jesus’s values to heart and make them our own. The world will not necessarily understand the way of God. Thus, we may be misunderstood and be rejected by worldly people. It is difficult, even for us, to have a full vision and understanding of all revelation. But, we can rest assured through faith in God there will be good outcomes to all efforts made in God’s way.
When it comes to thinking of God as the Good Shepherd the following thought comes to me. When I really want good service or the resolution to some earthly matter I ask to see the owner of the shop. Well, think of the Good Shepherd, God, as the owner of the shop. He has the ultimate concern and desire for all things He has created to reach their fullest potential. He constantly calls all creatures, especially us, to His way. God wishes to make all things right and whole.
Sheep come to know the shepherd’s voice. Know it, then. Listen closely for it. When you discern His voice and follow His way you will be on the road to a much fuller life. Further, once you are following the Lord, shepherd others to Him. These might be your family members, friends, and people you minister to in some apostolate of the parish church. Shepherds facilitate justice and right relationship with God and others. As you share in God’s life you can do this too.
So, come to know God and know His people too. Knowing God is an intimate matter and thus can be quite edifying. As you are edified shepherd others, giving yourself to God and them. The quality of life will be better for all.
Where we live, Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we are not very agrarian or pastoral. We do not raise vegetables or livestock. Perhaps it is difficult to relate to the image of shepherd. Yet, many of you own pets and surely know you must take care of them. They are dependent on you. Their quality of life depends on you.
Well, God has great concern for all His creation, especially we human beings. God the Father has given His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit that flows from both of them. The Holy Spirit keeps on guiding us through the One, Holy, Apostolic Church.
The Father’s love is extended to all. It was incarnate in Jesus. Now the Church guided by the Holy Spirit continues to do God’s mercy. This is seen in the Acts of the Apostles.
God’s power to make people whole is given to us. We are to use it well. Making things whole extends to all of God’s creation, all of nature. It is logical to extend God’s work to others at all times. The obligation to do so is not limited.
The second reading teaches we are to take Jesus’s values to heart and make them our own. The world will not necessarily understand the way of God. Thus, we may be misunderstood and be rejected by worldly people. It is difficult, even for us, to have a full vision and understanding of all revelation. But, we can rest assured through faith in God there will be good outcomes to all efforts made in God’s way.
When it comes to thinking of God as the Good Shepherd the following thought comes to me. When I really want good service or the resolution to some earthly matter I ask to see the owner of the shop. Well, think of the Good Shepherd, God, as the owner of the shop. He has the ultimate concern and desire for all things He has created to reach their fullest potential. He constantly calls all creatures, especially us, to His way. God wishes to make all things right and whole.
Sheep come to know the shepherd’s voice. Know it, then. Listen closely for it. When you discern His voice and follow His way you will be on the road to a much fuller life. Further, once you are following the Lord, shepherd others to Him. These might be your family members, friends, and people you minister to in some apostolate of the parish church. Shepherds facilitate justice and right relationship with God and others. As you share in God’s life you can do this too.
So, come to know God and know His people too. Knowing God is an intimate matter and thus can be quite edifying. As you are edified shepherd others, giving yourself to God and them. The quality of life will be better for all.
Peace and blessings,
Father Bob
Father Bob
Father Bob's
Video Reflections
Each week Father Bob posts a Video Reflection on the Spiritual readings for the weekend Mass. These Videos are not intended to replace your prescence at mass each week! Much like Scripture Sharing on Thursday evening from 7 pm - 8 pm, these videos act as a point of reference to enhance your knowledge and better prepare you to participate in each weeks celebration.
Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.
Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.
Sacraments of Christian Initiation
Sacraments of Healing
Sacraments of Service
Prayer for Peace
Mary, Queen of Peace, save us all, who have so much trust in you, from wars, hatred, and oppression. Make us all learn to live in peace, and educate ourselves for peace, do what is demanded by justice and respect the rights of every person, so that peace may be firmly established. Amen.
The Jesus Prayer...
Lord Jesus Christ
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.
Click on the links below for more information
This Weeks Scripture Readings
April 28, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Reading I
Acts 9:26-31
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples,
but they were all afraid of him,
not believing that he was a disciple.
Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles,
and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord,
and that he had spoken to him,
and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem,
and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.
He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,
but they tried to kill him.
And when the brothers learned of this,
they took him down to Caesarea
and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.
It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.
but they were all afraid of him,
not believing that he was a disciple.
Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles,
and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord,
and that he had spoken to him,
and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem,
and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.
He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,
but they tried to kill him.
And when the brothers learned of this,
they took him down to Caesarea
and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.
It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32
R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the LORD.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your hearts live forever!"
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the LORD.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your hearts live forever!"
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
Reading II
1 Jn 3:18-24
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
Alleluia
Jn 15:4a, 5b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord.
Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord.
Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Gospel
Jn 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
Next Weeks Readings
May 5, 2024
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Psalm 98:1,2-3,3-4
1 John 4:7-10
1 John 4:7-10
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Psalm 98:1,2-3,3-4
1 John 4:7-10
1 John 4:7-10