Catholic Mass Reading: Sunday, 3 May 2020 – The Good Shepherd

Sunday May 3, 2020
Fourth Sunday of Easter (A)
Good Shepard Sunday
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery

Vocations Sunday: Today, Special prayers should be offered for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.

Theme of the Sunday: The Good Shepherd. A shepherd is a guide and a leader and so the fourth Sunday after Easter is called Vocation Sunday a day of special prayer for those who are “shepherds” in the Church. There is only one “Shepherd” and that is Jesus. We are his flock. Those who belong to his flock recognise his voice. Jesus is also the gate. Those who need to contact his sheep must go through him, must, that is, mould their way of thinking and acting on his. The first and second readings are linked to this theme and show us what Jesus did, which we must imitate.

Entrance Antiphon cf. Ps 33:5-6
The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia.

The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is said.

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…

FIRST READING      
“God has made him both Lord and Christ.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2.14a.36-41)

[On the day of Pentecost,] Peter, standing with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said to the multitude, “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 23: I-3a.3b-4.5.6 (R. 1)
R/. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Or: Alleluia.

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; he revives  my soul. R/.

He guides me along the right path, for the sake of his name.
Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
no evil would I fear, for you are with me.
Your crook and your staff will give me comfort. R/.

You have prepared a table before me in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing. R/.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for length of days unending. R/.

SECOND READING 
“You have returned to the shepherd of your souls.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter (l Peter 2:20b-25)

Beloved: If when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA    
Alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own, and my own know me. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“I am the door of the sheep. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 10:1-10)

At that time: Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Christ the shepherd brings us life.

PRIEST: My brothers and sisters Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep, has risen again to bring us new life. Let us ask God our Father to bless all those whom he has appointed to guard and guide us in our journey through life.

READER:            
We pray for the leaders of the Church, (pause) may they, like the Good Shepherd, always seek to lead their flocks to good pasture, where they can feed on God’s holy word and on the Eucharist. (pause) Lord, hear us; and lead us always we pray Oh Lord.

For those in charge of civil affairs, (pause) may they never hinder anyone from exercising freedom of conscience in the practice of their religion, but seek, in all things, to provide a suitable setting on which  Christ’ saving gospel may be preached. (pause) Lord, hear us; and lead us always we pray Oh Lord.

For those deprived of bishops and priests to minister to them (pause) may they always know that Christ himself is the gate of the sheepfold, and as a good shepherd, is never absent from those who believe in him. (pause) Lord, hear us; and lead us always we pray Oh Lord.

For missionaries everywhere, (pause) by our prayers and material support, may we help missionaries to continue the work of the Good Shepherd, who came that everyone might have life to the full. (pause) Lord, hear us; and lead us always we pray Oh Lord.

We pray in silence for our own intentions.

PRIEST:               
Father, may we never stray far from you, but follow wherever you lead us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reflection
“By his wounds you have been healed,” says Saint Peter in today’s Second Reading. The shepherd becomes the door of the sheepfold. He risks his life in order to protect his sheep. The predator targets the shepherd who guards the sheep like a door. His life is in danger. He is attacked and killed. He dies to save the lives of the sheep. But a thief runs away when the predator attacks. The sheep get scattered and killed. In Jesus we have the good shepherd who “bore our sins in his body on the tree,” who was wounded and killed to save his sheep. We are that sheep saved by the death of Jesus, our good shepherd. Do we hear his voice and follow his path? Or do we hear the voice of the thief who “comes to kill and destroy?” Lord, help us hear your voice and follow you.

Personal Devotional: Day 3 May Devotion

Our Mother Mary knew who Jesus is and she did not doubt that He could do something to change any difficult situation that is brought to Him in prayer.

She has shown us example at the wedding at Cana in Galilee that we should not be afraid to approach Jesus in prayer no matter the need we have, but we must have faith to believe that He can do something for us. Therefore, we must be people of faith who will always take our matter to Jesus in prayer trusting that He will answer us. Our Mother Mary can help us to connect to Jesus if we asked her for help.

Meditation: John 14:12-14

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to always seek your face in prayer as our Mother Mary sought the help of Jesus at the wedding at Cana and may I find you when I seek you with my whole heart. Amen.

M A Y   D E V O T I O N
Program of Daily Events for May Devotion (Personal / Group)

1. Introduction: Sign of the Cross +  / (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament optional)

2. Act of contrition:
    O my God because you’re so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you and by the help of your grace I will not sin again.

3. Act of Consecration to the Immaculate heart of Mary:
O most pure heart of Mary, full of goodness, show your love towards us. Let the flame of your heart, O Mary, descend on all people. We love you immensely. Impress on our hearts true love so that we may long for you. O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we sin. You know that all we sin. Grant that through your most pure and motherly heart, we may be healed from every spiritual sickness. Grant that we may always experience the goodness of your motherly heart, and that through the flame of your heart we may be converted. Amen.

4. Rosary Recitation and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Begin with the invocation of the Holy Spirit: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the heart……….

5. Art of Reparation to the Immaculate heart of Mary:
O Most Holy Virgin, and Our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promising a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart. We therefore kneel before you to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause you, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus Christ and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth and enjoy him forever in Heaven.

6. Brief talk on Blessed Virgin Mary

7. Gift of candle light and offering of petition. (Lighting of candles and submission of petition).

8. Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine     intercession was left unaided Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.  Amen.

9. Prayers for the intention of Our Holy Father (One Our Father, One Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father).

10. Benediction

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