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The Order for Evening Prayer, The Saturday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Morning Prayer, The Saturday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Evening Prayer, The Friday of the Fourth Sunday after Trinity by Fr. Damien
The Order for Morning Prayer, The Friday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Evening Prayer, The Thursday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Morning Prayer, The Thursday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
Fourth Sunday of Easter John 21: 1-19
The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday John 10:22–30
The Order for Morning Prayer, The Wednesday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Evening Prayer, The Wednesday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Evening Prayer, The Tuesday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Morning Prayer, The Tuesday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Evening Prayer, The Monday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Morning Prayer, The Monday of the Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
Sermon delivered by Fr. Hayden Butler on Sunday, May 18, 2025.View Transcript:https://bit.ly/Sermon_2025-05-18_The-Fourth-Sunday-after-Easter_Fr-Hayden
Fr. Larry Richards of The Reason For Our Hope Foundation Podcast
Given on the Fourth Sunday after Easter, 2025.
Given on the Fourth Sunday after Easter, 2025.
The sermon for Jubilate (commonly known as the Fourth Sunday of Easter) by Pastor Atkinson.
The Order for Morning Prayer, The Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
The Order for Evening Prayer, The Fourth Sunday after Easter by Fr. Damien
5 But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou?Haec autem vobis ab initio non dixi, quia vobiscum eram. Et nunc vado ad eum qui misit me; et nemo ex vobis interrogat me : Quo vadis? 6 But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart.sed quia haec locutus sum vobis, tristitia implevit cor vestrum. 7 But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go: for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.Sed ego veritatem dico vobis : expedit vobis ut ego vadam : si enim non abiero, Paraclitus non veniet ad vos; si autem abiero, mittam eum ad vos. 8 And when he is come, he will convict the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment.Et cum venerit ille, arguet mundum de peccato, et de justitia, et de judicio. 9 Of sin: because they believed not in me.De peccato quidem, quia non crediderunt in me. 10 And of justice: because I go to the Father; and you shall see me no longer.De justitia vero, quia ad Patrem vado, et jam non videbitis me. 11 And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged.De judicio autem, quia princeps hujus mundi jam judicatus est. 12 I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now.Adhuc multa habeo vobis dicere, sed non potestis portare modo. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall shew you.Cum autem venerit ille Spiritus veritatis, docebit vos omnem veritatem : non enim loquetur a semetipso, sed quaecumque audiet loquetur, et quae ventura sunt annuntiabit vobis. 14 He shall glorify me; because he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it to you.Ille me clarificabit, quia de meo accipiet, et annuntiabit vobis.Our Lord will send from heaven to His Church the Spirit of truth. The Holy Ghost will unite all hearts, will teach them all truth.
A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Easter Psalm 82, St. James 1:17-21, St. John 16:5-15 by William Klock How'd your week go? Several times—actually, a bunch of times—I found myself thinking about what I preached last Sunday—thinking about the hope that lies before us. Thinking about how Jesus, risen from the dead, is the beginning of God's new creation and how he—and his gift of the Holy Spirit—give me assurance that what God began that first Easter morning he will one day complete. Thinking that because I am by faith in Jesus the Messiah, I will one day know that new creation in all its fullness. And I was thinking about that because—a bunch of times this week—I was looking forward to that day when God will set everything to rights. Because I hope that in God's new world there will be no broken spokes or being chased by dogs on the River Trail, no need to change timing belts or ball joints, and maybe the best part: no arguments started by random strangers on the Internet and no relationships with old friends strained by current events. Because all those things did happen to me this week. None of them were earth-shatteringly horrible—and I'm glad of that—but they remind me that the world is not as it should be. And then I read the news and I learned about a man stuck in bureaucratic immigration limbo with seemingly no hope of getting out of it. Having been through that process, his story resonated with me. And I read about a farmer in Vermont stuck with a bill for thousands of dollars assessed on his cattle feed from Canada because of tariffs. His business profits for the year gone. And there's absolutely nothing he can do. And reading about people stuck in the middle of wars. And a friend shared an article about the persecuted church in China. And all I can do is pray, which feels like it's not enough and some people say it's a waste of time. But I know it's not, because Jesus has risen and I know that means that God's new world has begun and one day he'll set everything to rights. And so I hope and I pray that it may be “on earth as it is in heaven”. And then I started looking at this week's scripture lessons. And there's the Old Testament lesson from Job and that verse we read in the procession at funerals: I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though this body be destroyed, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. Brothers and Sisters, there's that same hope. Job had faith that the Lord would vindicate him. And the Psalm. Psalm 82 has been with me, running around in my head all week. God has stood up in the council of heaven: in the midst of the gods he gives judgement. How long will you judge unjustly: and favour the cause of the wicked? Judge for the poor and needy: and save them from the hands of the wicked. They do not know, they do not understand, they walk about in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are shaken. Therefore I say, “Though you are gods: and all of you sons of the Most High, Nevertheless you shall die like man: and fall like one of the princes.” Arise, O God, and judge the earth: for you shall take all the nations as your possession. Psalm 82 is from a group of psalms written by Asaph. Asaph was Samuel's grandson and he and his sons were commissioned by King David to worship the Lord. That was their job. They were court worshippers. And in Psalm 82, Asaph cries out with the whole people of Israel at the injustices of the world. The gods of this age favour the wicked. They will not come to the aid of the poor and needy. In other words, Asaph knew that the world is not as it should be. And yet Asaph knew what the Lord had done for Israel and he knew his promises and so he could sing out about the Lord, the God of Isreal, as the great judge in heaven. Asaph had hope that the Lord would hold the powers of this present age accountable. Asaph closes with that confident prayer: Arise, O God, and judge the earth: For you shall take the nations as your possession. This was how Israel prayed “on earth as in heaven”. Things were going well for Israel under King David, but even then, Asaph, with the people of Israel, still had a profound sense of the brokenness and the fallenness of the world. It was the Lord's plan, as he called and created a people for himself, that this people would know the crushing weight of sin and death. He allowed them to become slaves in Egypt. And he delivered them that they might know his grace and his faithfulness—so that they might know that he is the God who keeps his promises and that he is the judge who will vindicate the cause of the poor and the oppressed. And this became Israel's story and Israel's identity. Over and over she would find herself being crushed under the heel of this or that pagan king, and she would cry out to the Lord, and he would come as the great judge to vindicate Israel and to defeat her enemies and to rescue her. And as this was the identity and story of Israel, so it would be the identity and story of the Messiah, and then the story and identity of the Messiah's people, of the church. But the disciples weren't expecting this. No one—or almost no one—in Israel was expecting this. The Messiah was supposed to come and break this cycle. In him God's new world would come, they would all be raised, and they would reign forever in a world set to rights—once and for all. And they were sort of right, but they got the timeline wrong. And that's because they'd forgotten the promises and the part of the story where God calls and sets apart this special people for himself in order to bring the nations to him in faith. Only a people who knows suffering, who knows the crushing weight of sin and injustice, can carry God's forgiveness and justice to the world. That's why the Messiah had to die. Sin and death had to do their worst, so that Jesus could rise triumphant over them. Deliverance comes through suffering. Forgiveness and new life require sacrifice. But they'd forgotten this and this is what Jesus has been trying to explain to the disciples through the lessons we've had from John's gospel these past weeks. And so he says in John 16:1: I've said these things to you to stop you from being tripped up. They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will suppose that they are in that way offering worship to God. They will do these things because they haven't known the Father or me. But I have been talking to you about these things so that, when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them. Jesus by this point has already explained to them that very soon he's going to be leaving them. That was bad news enough. But now he tells them that after he's gone, persecution is coming. Their unbelieving Jewish brethren will throw them out of the synagogues—which means cutting them off from the Jewish community, from family, friends. They will become outsiders in their own community. Some of them, Jesus warns, will even die for their faith in him. And when that happens, Jesus knew, it will be really tempting to give up. They thought that the Messiah was going to put an end to all the suffering and tears, but now Jesus is warning: you're going to know suffering and tears the likes of which you've never known before—and all for my sake. I didn't say these things to you from the start, Jesus goes on, because I was with you. In other words, as long as Jesus was with them they were still pretty sure of how all this Messiah stuff was going to work out. Again, the Messiah would usher in God's new world and everything would be great. And then, with Jesus gone, they're going to be tempted to give up—just like we saw them hiding behind locked doors. If Jesus goes away without setting everything to rights, well, he must not have been the Messiah after all. That would be the logical conclusion. And they'd do their best to go back to their old pre-Jesus lives. So now Jesus is getting them ready. He goes on: But now I'm going to the one who sent me. None of you asks me, “Where are you going?” But because I've said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Well, yes. If Jesus is leaving, how's he ever going to accomplish his messianic mission? But this is what Jesus wants to stress to them—even though they won't understand right away. This is his messianic mission: Truly, truly I say to you: It's better for you that I should go away. If I don't go away, you see, the Helper won't come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you. Just in case it isn't clear, what Jesus is talking about here is his ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit. The risen Jesus couldn't stay here forever. When his own people cried out for Jesus' crucifixion they declared, “We have no king but Caesar.” It was the ultimate rejection of both their God and their Messiah. It was blasphemy and until that moment, if you'd asked anyone in Jerusalem if they considered Caesar their king, they'd have laughed at you. The Lord was their king. But they became so outraged by Jesus' messianic claims, so outrage with the things he said about the temple, that they shouted the unthinkable to Pilate: “Crucify him! We have no king but Caesar.” And then to spite them, Pilate posted those mocking words on the cross: “This is the King of the Jews”. But when God raised Jesus from the dead, he vindicated him. It was a divine declaration that Jesus really is the Messiah and that he really is Israel's (and the whole world's) king. And kings have to take their thrones. And since God's work of new creation has only just begun and Jesus' throne is in heaven, that's where he had to go to begin his rule. The king couldn't stay here forever. But—the second thing Jesus is saying here—if he goes, he will send the Helper—God's own Spirit—and God's Spirit will make the reality of Jesus resurrection and of God's new creation real to us. The end goal is for heaven and earth and God and human beings to be reunited. Jesus, the God man, is the embodiment of that hope. But consider, Brothers and Sisters, that the gift of the Holy Spirit is too. The title John uses is parakletos. In Greek it literally means “called alongside”, which is a powerful image of who and what the Spirit is for us. He comes alongside as our helper, our intercessor, and our advocate. And this is essential. Like I stressed last week, as the disciples began to realise the significance of Jesus' resurrection, they got excited. They were ready to go out and shout it from the rooftops of Jerusalem. But Jesus stressed to them: “Wait. Wait until I send the Helper.” Because enthusiasm will only get us so far. Jesus has given his people a mission, but enthusiasm and excitement alone won't fulfil it. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. So Jesus goes on here in verse 8: When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong on three counts: sin, justice, and judgement. In relation to sin, because they don't believe in me. In relation to justice—because I'm going to the Father, and you won't see me anymore. In relation to judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged. God's people had longed for their day in court and for the Lord to vindicate them—just like we read in Psalm 82. And Jesus' point here is that it's finally going to happen. Except it's going to be his people—this new Israel—who will finally get their day before the judge. And as Jesus' people bring their case before the great Judge, the Spirit will be there to help them—to be their advocate. The Spirit will present the evidence for the world's sin. But there's no reason for the Spirit to bring exhibit after exhibit showing the world's—and that's not just the pagan nations, but also unbelieving Israel—it's not necessary for the Spirit to put every last sin on display to prove the world's rebellion against God. All the Spirit has to do is present as evidence the world's rejection of Jesus. Either you stand with Jesus and on the side of God's new creation and are part of the world set right, or you stand in solidarity with sin. And, second, Jesus says, the Spirit will convict the world in relation to justice. If you're following along, some of your translations might say “righteousness”. These are the same word in Greek. “Justice” fits the context better here. Jesus' point is that the world thinks it has justice on its side. Like he told them earlier: They will kill you and in doing so they'll think that they're offering true worship to God. But Jesus' resurrection from the dead and his ascension to his throne are the evidence of his vindication by the Father. At the cross the world issued its verdict against Jesus, but when he raised Jesus from the dead and enthroned him in heaven, God overturned the false verdict of the world and declared his son to be the Messiah and the world's true lord. If you want justice, look to Jesus, because everyone who trusts in Jesus and gives him their allegiance as king shares in that verdict. And, third, Jesus says that the Spirit will give evidence that the world is wrong in relation to judgement. The world was about to pass judgement on Jesus and condemn him to death as a false messiah, but his resurrection and ascension would prove the world wrong. And not long after that the world would pass the same judgement on Jesus' people, on the church, but Jesus promises that the Spirit will stand with them and continue to prove the world's judgement wrong. The Spirit will continue to present the evidence of Jesus resurrection and ascension as proof that the devil has been defeated and that death itself no longer has the final say. Brothers and Sisters, the Holy Spirit isn't just our advocate before the judge, he is our comforter amidst the trials Jesus promised we will face as we take up our crosses to follow him. Jesus promised his disciples and he promises us that we will face hatred and even persecution—sometimes martyrdom—for the sake of his name. But because we know he is faithful, because he has vindicated Jesus, we can trust that the judge of all the earth will do what is right. Even as we face death itself, we know that death has been defeated. As the Father raised Jesus from death, so he will raise us if we are in him. And the Spirit comes alongside us not so we can hunker down inside our churches like the disciples hunkered down and hiding in the dark that first Easter weekend. The Spirit comes alongside us to empower us as we go out. As we take our message of hope and forgiveness, of the world set to rights and tears wiped away, as we take that good news of Jesus, crucified and risen and Lord to the world. This is the point of our Epistle today from St. James. Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes down from above, from the Father of lights. His steady light doesn't vary. It doesn't change and produce shadows. I have to think that when James talks about the good and perfect gift coming down from the Father of lights he's talking about the Holy Spirit. Yes, everything good we have is a gift from him, but the Spirit is the gift above all others. For Jesus in John's gospel, the Spirit was the one who would come alongside to help and advocate for us. For James, the Spirit shows us the constancy and faithfulness of the Father. The gift of the Spirit is proof for James that God keeps his promises, because the life of the Spirit is the thing he'd been promising to his people all along: his own presence with them to give them a new heart and set them to rights. James goes on in 1:19. So, my dear brothers [and sisters], get this straight. Every person should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Human anger, you see, doesn't produce God's justice. So put away everything that is sordid, all that overflowing malice, and humbly receive the word which has been planted within you and which has the power to save our lives. In other words, let the Spirit transform you. Let the Spirit make you—or maybe better to align you with—God's new creation. The example James uses is anger. Anger is what wells up from the fallen human heart in response to injustice, but responding to injustice with anger—and James isn't talking about righteous or just anger, but about malice and pride—responding with anger just compounds the problem. Sin can never make another sin right. Instead, God's word has been planted within you. Let the Spirit cause that world to take root and grow. That gospel word is what has saved your life. But if you let the Spirit grow that word in you, if you let God's word shape you, if you let the Spirt make you a truly gospel person, that life-saving combination of word and Spirit will overflow from you and you will be a gospel light in the darkness of the world, you will be a beacon of God's new creation in the midst of the old. Word and Spirit working through us will make us a people ready to endure suffering and persecution so that we can, even if it's just in small ways, so that we can bring God's justice into the world, so that we can wipe away the tears and proclaim the good news that Jesus is Lord. Brothers and Sisters, this is how God's new creation comes. This is how he wipes away the tears and set things to rights. Jesus started it when he rose from the grave, but God's word and God's Spirit, working through the church—through us—as we go out into the world, not only bring God's salvation to individuals, but as we are transformed one by one, the gospel, the word, the Spirit create a whole new culture with Jesus and the gospel at its core. One day Jesus will come back for the final act, to cast down death and to fully bring heaven and earth back together once and for all. But that day will come because his people, empowered by his word and by his Spirit have been faithful in being his new creation right here in the midst of the old. So, Brothers and Sisters, go out in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Let's pray: Father, as we asked in the Collect we ask again: fix our hearts on the good things you have promised. Keep the hope of your salvation and of your justice ever before us, that we might go out full of your Spirit, to live and to proclaim the good news of Jesus and his kingdom. Through him we pray. Amen.
Morning Prayer for Saturday, May 17, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 40Deuteronomy 18Luke 9:51-62Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Evening lessons: Psalms 44; Ecclesiastes 4; 1 John 5. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us what you did in the days of old.
Sunday Worship for May 11, 2025, from Queen Anne Lutheran Church in Seattle, our 10:30 service—Pastor Dan Peterson; Cantor Kyle Haugen.
Evening Prayer for Friday, May 16, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd; The Martyrs of the Sudan, 2011).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 37:19-42Ecclesiastes 21 John 3:11-4:6Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Morning Prayer for Friday, May 16, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd; The Martyrs of the Sudan, 2011).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 37:1-18Deuteronomy 17Luke 9:18-50Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Easter, A.D. MMXXV.
Morning Prayer for Thursday, May 15, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd; Pachomius, Abbot of Tabennisi, 346).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 32, 36Deuteronomy 16Luke 9:1-17Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Evening Prayer for Thursday, May 15, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd; Pachomius, Abbot of Tabennisi, 346).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 38Ecclesiastes 11 John 3:1-10Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Fourth Sunday of Lent. Father Dave notes how we may have trouble relating to today's reading of the Prodigal Son. The story is not just about one person, but how God joyfully embraces us all in forgiveness. Preached at St. Paul the Apostle Church, New York City, NY on 3-30-25
Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 8:26-39 at Common Table: Waiting for an Opening w/ Drew Willson
Fourth Sunday of Easter | Rev. Danny Bryant | Acts 9:36-43 | Psalm 23 | Revelation 7:9-17 | John 10:22-30 | May 11th, 2025 | St. Mary of Bethany Parish (Nashville, TN)
Evening Prayer for Wednesday, May 14, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 35Job 421 John 2:7-29Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Morning Prayer for Wednesday, May 14, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 34Deuteronomy 15Luke 8:22-56Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Evening Prayer for Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 33Job 411 John 1:1-2:6Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Morning Prayer for Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 29-30Deuteronomy 14Luke 8:1-21Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
The Faithful Witness of the Church Revelation 7:9–17 The Fourth Sunday of Easter Sunday, May 11, 2025 Rev. Kenny Benge, Associate Rector Church of the Redeemer, Nashville, TN www.Redeemer-Nashville.net
Evening Prayer for Monday, May 12, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 31Job 40Jude 1-25Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Morning Prayer for Monday, May 12, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 26, 28Deuteronomy 13Luke 7:36-50Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Fr. Larry Richards of The Reason For Our Hope Foundation Podcast
Evening Prayer for Sunday, May 11, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 27Job 392 Peter 3Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Morning Prayer for Sunday, May 11, 2025 (The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 25Deuteronomy 12Luke 7:11-35Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Easter. We get the behavior we are willing to tolerate. There are times when we need to establish boundaries...even with the people we love. Even as Christians, we need to choose and clearly communicate what we are able to or willing to tolerate. Mass Readings from May 11, 2025: Acts 13:14, 43-52 Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5Revelation 7:9, 14b-17 John 10:27-30
Evening Prayer for Saturday, May 10, 2025 (Eve of The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 23-24Job 38:1-27, 31-332 Peter 2Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Read OnlineJesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” John 10:27–28The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is an endearing image. Many artists have depicted the gentleness of Christ as He leads His sheep or carries a straying lamb on His shoulders. We are given this image today as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday.In our short Gospel passage today, Jesus addressed some of the Jews who were trying to trap Him in His speech. Prior to this passage, they asked Him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” To that, Jesus responded, “I told you and you do not believe.” Jesus answered this way because the people questioning Him were not interested in actually knowing whether He was the Messiah. Instead, they wanted to accuse Him of blasphemy. But Jesus tells them that He already told them Who He was through His works: “The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.”Do you see the works of God in your life? If you do, then it is important to understand that Jesus' works are one of the primary ways that He speaks to you and leads you as your Shepherd. God certainly speaks to us through His Word as it is revealed in the Scriptures and in the teachings of the Church. But He also speaks to us through His works. Among the many works of God in your life is the work of grace by which God enables you to grow in virtue. Therefore, it is important to look for the ways that supernatural virtue grows in your life. For example, do you see courage in the face of fear? If so, what is God saying to you through the increase of this virtue? Do you see a supernatural ability to forgive another? If so, what is God telling you through the increase of that virtue? Do you see an increase in the virtue of piety, by which your life of prayer becomes more important to you? If so, what is God saying to you through the increase of this virtue?The discernment of the will of God enables us to hear His voice and follow Him. And one of the best ways to discern the will of God is to look for the ways that God is touching your life. Where you see virtue increase, the will of God is present and is calling you to grow in that area. Conversely, if there is something in your life that leads you to sin, and, thus, a decrease in virtue, then this is also God's voice telling you to avoid these things. Reflect, today, upon God's actions that are perceptible in your life. Even though God speaks clearly to us through His revealed Word, He also speaks to us and shepherds us through His discernable touching of our souls. Where you see virtue increase, you will find the will of God. Where you see virtue decrease, you will not find the will of God. Listen to God as He speaks to you this way so that you will hear His voice, follow Him and receive eternal life.My revealing Lord, You speak to me day and night, calling me to follow You as my Shepherd. May I learn to perceive Your voice as You speak to me in varied ways so that I can more readily follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, my Good Shepherd, I trust in You. Main image via Adobe StockSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Bishop Robert Barron’s Sermons - Catholic Preaching and Homilies
Friends, on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we have this marvelous, short but very punchy reading from the Gospel of John: Jesus referring to himself as the good shepherd. This is a remarkably apt metaphor for how God reaches out to us—knows us personally—and how we are able to discern and follow his voice. But how do we hear the voice of the shepherd? In a lot of ways—but I wonder if the clearest way isn't through the conscience, which John Henry Newman called the aboriginal Vicar of Christ in the soul.