A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 8, n. 22)
4th Sunday of Easter, Year C – April 25, 2010 *
“The Lamb Will Shepherd Them”
BIBLE READINGS
Acts 13:14, 43-52 // Rv 7:9, 14b-17 // Jn 10:27-30
(N.B. Series 8 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year C from the perspective of the Second Reading. For reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year C based on the Gospel reading, please scroll up to the “ARCHIVES” above and open Series 2. For reflections based on the Old Testament reading, open Series 5.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
The Easter season continues to celebrate the triumph of the Risen Lord, who once was dead for his sheep. On this “Good Shepherd Sunday”, we thank him for the offer of “eternal life” that is his gift to us - the sheep of his flock. Indeed, it is the desire of our Lord Jesus that his sheep hear his voice and follow him, and that they remain with him and never die (cf. Jn 10:27-30).
Deeply united with his Father’s saving will, the glorified Jesus continues to tend his sheep through the ministry of his disciples and apostles through the ages (cf. Acts 13:14, 43-52). The mission of Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, springs forth from the saving mission of Jesus to gather the sheep of his fold. Paul and Barnabas were rejected and persecuted by the unbelieving Jews. Notwithstanding the trials and difficulties they suffered, the disciples of Jesus were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Aelred Rosser comments: “The point is that the word must be preached throughout the world, and it will take root and bear fruit among all who receive it. Those who reject the word, whether Jew or Gentile, will never be able to keep it from going forth to the farthest reaches of the earth. The will of God guarantees that nothing will prevent the good news from being offered to the entire world … There will always be resistance to the spread of the word. There will always be those who refuse to accept the good news. They cannot be coerced … Nothing can force men and women to accept the good news. And nothing can stop the good news from being accepted by men and women who freely choose to believe.”
The vision of Saint John of a great, universal and exultant multitude around the victorious Lamb-Shepherd (Rv 7:9, 14b-17) is for us a powerhouse of comfort and joy. It encourages the suffering and militant Church that those who endure the trials and sufferings that inevitably afflict the faithful will one day experience the triumph of their faith. The multitude of the redeemed, robed in white, holding palm branches and standing before the throne, are conquerors in the blood of the sacrificial Lamb Jesus Christ – who is also their Shepherd to eternal life.
The biblical scholar Eduardo Arens Kuckerlhorn explicates: “John sees a great multitude that he could not count, proclaiming salvation with a thunderous voice. It is truly a community without borders, made up of those who have come out of the great ordeal (Rv 7:14) that the seer experiences in his own flesh. Through such trials and tribulations the nuptial robes of the bride are being woven (19:7). This multitude have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They are robed in white, with palm branches in their hands and are standing before the throne – that is, all are conquerors, and their victory is a participation in the victory of the Lamb they adore. Their worship is eternal, for it occurs in the presence of God who has pitched a tent in the midst of the people. In this manner John anticipates the vision of the New Jerusalem, the only difference being that in the new heavenly city, there will no longer be a temple. God’s people are on the march, and are guided and shepherded by the Lamb (Is 47:10 and Ps 23). The Lord walks ahead of his Church, guiding it to the fountain of life that is found in the company of God and of the Lamb.”
On this Good Shepherd Sunday within the special Year for Priests, we opportunely celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, asking the Lord for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We pray especially for generous men to the priestly ministry. With the heart of the Good Shepherd, they will tend the lambs, lead the sheep to the “springs of living water”, and guide them to “eternal life”, which is a gracious gift of the Risen Lord to us.
The following testimony, “Why Did I Become A Priest?” was written by Fr. Noel San Vicente, JCD, associate pastor at Queen of Apostles Church in San Jose, California, on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of priestly ordination. The anniversary celebration on March 21, 2010 – excellently prepared and very festive – was joyfully participated by Fr. Noel’s family, friends and parishioners from Queen of Apostles and other churches. May his inspiring response to God generate more priestly and religious vocations in the Church today.
When I was assigned here at Queen of Apostles Church almost three years ago, the question parishioners often asked was: “Were you born on Christmas day?” And so when Father Mike, our pastor, asked me to write an article in our Bulletin, I took the opportunity to explain why I was named Noel even though I was born in August. And now as I celebrate my twenty-fifth anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood I find myself being asked by many: why did you become a priest?
This question brings back a lot of memories from my younger days. I entered the seminary right after grade school. In the Philippines, we only study in grade school for six years so I was only 13 years old then. But my decision to enter the seminary was connected with my desire to become a priest even before that. I remember, even as a young boy of five, I was playing the role of a priest whenever I was with my cousins and kids of my age in our neighborhood. I would ask them to gather for a celebration of the mass under the mango tree in our back yard or at the large living room of my grandparents’ house where there is an altar of Christ the King with a gas lamp perpetually lighted until now. I would use bed sheets not just to pretend I was batman or superman, but in order to look like I was vested for the celebration of the mass. We used fita biscuits (the Filipino version of Ritz crackers) and sarsi cola for communion. But before that I would ask my cousins to come to confession as I sat behind a chair and heard them declare their sins as I gave them the makeshift absolution.
I fell in love with the priesthood and the Holy Eucharist at a very young age. I had the desire to come to mass frequently. I could not wait for Wednesdays to come so I could come to Mass and pray the Novena in honor of our Mother of Perpetual Help. I looked forward, every month, for the First Friday so I could come to mass in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. And, of course, I would always wish for Sunday to come so I could again attend Mass. Then I became an altar boy, That gave me the chance not just to come to Mass but to be able to serve at Mass. Then I realized that I had this desire, as a young boy, to celebrate the Mass. While serving the Mass as an altar boy I realized that this inner longing to be able, one day, to celebrate the Holy Eucharist was still there in my heart. So I concluded that the Lord was really calling me to become a priest. As I graduated from grade school our parish priest asked me if I wanted to enter the seminary, because that’s the only way one becomes a priest. So he recommended me to enter the high school seminary. When I was seeking admission, the Seminary Rector asked me, “NOEL, WHY DO YOU WANT TO ENTER THE SEMINARY?” Of course my answer was: “BECAUSE I WANT TO BECOME A PRIEST!” Here comes the other question: “WHY DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A PRIEST?” I remember that I answered with full conviction: “FATHER RECTOR, I WANT TO BECOME A PRIEST BECAUSE I LOVE GOD!”
As I celebrate the 25 years of my ordination to the priesthood, I was confronted with the question again: “Why did you become a priest?” And the more I reflect, in the past 25 years of my faith journey as a priest, there is one consistent truth that explains why I have decided to become a priest. And it is not because I love God – but because God loves me! What a precious gift that he gave me, but not only to me but also to Father Mike, Father Jim, and to all our priests.
This Sunday, I thank God for the gift of the priesthood! I thank the Lord, because through the gift of the priesthood, He continues to give us the Holy Eucharist, our life and strength in our journey. I thank Him for the gift of the Holy Eucharist that continues to unite all of us despite our diversities. I thank him for the gift of the priesthood, because we continue to experience the power of His kindness, mercy, healing and forgiveness.
I thank St. Joseph, foster father of our Lord, and patron of the Universal Church, and whose feast we just celebrated. When my father died in 1989, I began my devotion to him and asked him to be my protector and guide. Since that time, I have experienced his abiding presence. (I now serve the diocese under his patronage, at the city under his name, and where the bishop’s middle name is Joseph!).
I thank our Blessed Mother for her unfailing maternal care. Ever since I was a kid I learned to call upon her and I was convinced of her powerful intercession. She is truly the mother of all priests!
I thank God for the gift of family, my beloved Dad and Mom, who made me aware of God’s enormous love even before I learned how to walk and talk. I thank my sister and her family for their care and support all through the years. I thank God for the gift of friendship which all of you share that allow us your priests to give witness to the love of the heart of Jesus in our time!
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Do we allow ourselves to be loved and cared for by Jesus, the Good Shepherd? Do we hear his voice and obediently follow him on the path to eternal life? Do we trust that we are secure in his hands and that no one can snatch us away from him?
Do we recognize the vital role of Christ’s shepherds in the Church? Do we believe that by baptismal consecration, we too have a pastoral mission to accomplish? Do we imitate the courage and zeal of Paul and Barnabas and of the first disciples and apostles? Do we pray and offer sacrifice for the increase and perseverance of priestly vocations?
Do we allow ourselves to be heartened by the end-time vision of the great multitude of the redeemed – from every nation, race, people and tongue, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands? Do we trust that the victorious Lamb Jesus Christ who is in the center of the throne continues to shepherd his flock and lead them to springs of life-giving water?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Lord Jesus,
you are our everlasting Good Shepherd.
The offer of eternal life is your gift to us.
You continue to shepherd us through the ages
by the ministry and loving care of your apostles and disciples.
May we listen to your voice
and follow you on the path to eternal life.
Give us the strength to be faithful to the grace of Easter.
Grant us your compassionate heart - the heart of a true shepherd,
ready to sacrifice one’s life for the sheep.
We thank you for John’s vision of the end time
of the great multitude of the redeemed
from every nation, race, people and tongue,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches
and worshipping God for eternity.
You are the victorious Lamb-Shepherd!
Washed in your blood,
we are conquerors with you and rejoice in the ultimate triumph of faith.
We are heartened by the poignant images of eternal bliss:
no more hunger and thirst;
no longer scattered like sheep without a shepherd;
no more tears in our eyes.
Today, we commit ourselves to you as a gentle, trusting flock.
Shielding us from scorching heat, hunger and thirst,
you are the Lamb-Shepherd who leads us to springs of life-giving water.
Moreover, God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
We love and adore you;
we praise and glorify you,
forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water.” (Rv 7:17a)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
ACTION PLAN: Pray that the love and victory of the Lamb-Shepherd may be felt more deeply by the suffering people of today’s fragmented society. By your pastoral care and ministry, dispensed in the name of the same glorious, gentle Lamb-Shepherd, relieve the anxieties of the poor and the needy, mitigate the fears of the persecuted, and wipe away the tears of the sorrowing and the lonely.
ACTION PLAN: That we may experience more fully the loving care of the Lamb-Shepherd Jesus Christ, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year C, vol. 6, # 22).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US