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Gospel Reading for April 27, 2026 – John 10: 11-18
ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”
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Listening to Jesus say that he is the Good Shepherd is truly reassuring, for all of us have become fragile because of sin. We need someone so powerful that no one can snatch us from his hands—unless we ourselves allow it. We need someone so trustworthy who will keep us safe from all kinds of danger. We need someone who loves us so deeply that he is willing to lay down his life for us.
This is Jesus, our Good Shepherd. His work of salvation continues to this very day through his Holy Spirit and through us, his sheep. Hopefully, when those who are not yet part of the fold see how protected we are, how trustworthy our Shepherd is, and how deeply we are loved—that he was willing to lay down his life for us—they too will return to the fold. Then one day, we will be ONE FLOCK with ONE SHEPHERD.
Let us reflect on this song, O PANGINOON, PASTOL KO (Batay sa Salmo 23) –
Sa t’wing pagod ako sa mga hirap na dinadanas ko,
pinahihimlay mo ako sa luntiang pastulan mo;
Inaakay mo ako sa payapang batisan;
Pinagiginhawa kalooban, dinadala sa tuwid na landas.
O Panginoon, Pastol ko, pasanin mo ako sa `yong balikat,
`pagkat tiyak na ako’y ligtas sa anumang kapahamakan.
O Panginoon, Pastol ko, pasanin mo ako sa `yong balikat;
kabutihan at pag-ibig mo susunod sa buong buhay ko!
Sa harap ng kaaway, pinaghahain mo ako;
pinapahiran ng langis sa ulo, umaapaw ang aking baso.
Lumakad man ako sa lambak ng karimlan,
walang takot `pagka’t nar’yan ka, tungkod,
pamalo nagpapasigla.
O Panginoon, Pastol ko, pasanin mo ako sa `yong balikat,
`pagkat tiyak na ako’y ligtas sa anumang kapahamakan.
O Panginoon, Pastol ko, pasanin mo ako sa `yong balikat;
kabutihan at pag-ibig mo susunod sa buong buhay ko!
Panalangin ko ay manirahan
sa `yong bahay magpakailanman. Amen!
