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Gospel Reading for April 22, 2024 – John 10: 1-10
REST ASSURED
Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he 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. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
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If we are among those who have pets and take good care of them, we will probably understand what it means to be a sheep in the flock of Jesus. We can REST ASSURED that we will be taken care of very well and will always be safe from all harm. And if ever we go astray, he will leave the 99 of the 100 sheep to make sure he gets us back (Luke 15: 4-7). As pets become part of our family, we too become part of the family of God – the Church. Under the leadership of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, and the many gifts endowed on it by the Holy Spirit, the Church will always be led towards the right path, to green pastures where we can rest amidst the hustle and bustle of life.
As our prayer, let us ponder on the song, O PANGINOON, PASTOL KO (Salmo 23) –
Sa t’wing pagod ako sa mga hirap na dinanas 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.
