Mission Sts Sergius and Bacchus

Second Sunday After Easter Reflection
Readings: Psalm 32, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Luke 24:35, John 10:11-16,
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

Misericordia Domini plena est terra, alleluia: verbo Domini coeli firmati sunt, alleluia, alleluia. -- Exsultate, justi, in Domino: rectos decet collaudatio. V.: Gloria Patri . . . - Misericordia Domini plena est terra . . . The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, alleluia: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, alleluia, alleluia. -- (Ps. 32. 1). Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: praise is comely for the upright. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
These words from Psalm 32 open the liturgy for this Sunday and everything in the liturgy points up the Goodness of God.
God’s goodness is everywhere and Jesus in His ministry exemplified the Goodness of the Lord in word and deed.
The Gospel for this Sunday is one of my favorite images of Christ, that of The Good Shepherd.

At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and those that are not shepherds, whose own the sheep are not, seeing the wolf coming leaves the sheep and flees: and the wolf catches and scatters the sheep: the hireling fled, because he is a hireling, and he has no care for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd: and I know Mine, and Mine know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father: and I lay down My life for My sheep. Other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be but one fold and one shepherd.
The picture of the Good Shepherd carrying the sheep on His shoulders is very appropriate since if we trust and believe in Christ He, more often than not carries us through the difficult times in our life. The poem, FOOTSTEPS clearly says this.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, He looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.
This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.
The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
Recently I received a message from a person saying “Try as I might to believe in the goodness and mercy of Almighty God I fear death because I am afraid that even though I has asked forgiveness for my sins I am not sure that they have been forgiven and that when I die I will end up in hell as the priest preached so often.”
My heart became filled with sadness that this person heard the part about Hell and damnation but had totally missed the parts of the teachings of Christ about forgiveness. Throughout the entire public life of Christ as related in the Gospels and the Epistles the message of forgiveness is one of the strongest ones in scripture. Christ forgave the woman caught in adultery, Forgave the thief while He himself was dying, forgave those who nailed him to the Cross, and even told his apostles and affirmed to those who follow in their footsteps as ordained servants “Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven”.
Last Sunday was Divine Mercy Sunday and celebrated and was specially instituted to highlight the truth that God’s mercy is forever and unlimited for all those who seek it out. This Sunday the theme continues proclaiming The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. God is not a vengeful God, for if He was he most certainly would have repeated one of the events found in the old testament writings and destroyed this planet many times over since the time of Christ.
God is merciful, just, fair, patient, and loves every one of His children. His patience if like His love unlimited. He keeps waiting for us to get His message and to begin to live in accordance with what Jesus, His beloved son, taught us. “Love one another as I have loved you”
Today’s Epistle spells it out clearly “Dearly beloved, Christ suffered for you in just this way, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footstep. He, who did no wrong, neither was deceit was found in His mouth. When He was insulted, He returned no insult. When He was made to suffer, He threatened not, but delivered Himself up to the one who judges justly. In His own body He brought your sins to the cross, so that all of us, dead to sin, could live in accord with God’s will. By His wounds you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now returned to the Shepherd the guardian of your souls.
Christ is the Good Shepherd, He guards us and watches over us and when we go astray He comes after us to lead us back to the fold. When you hear His calling you, do not turn a deaf ear or allow others to entice you to ignore the call or delude you into believing that you are not really wanted and are only going to get punished if you heed the call. Christ came to save everyone, not just those good little sheep who never stray from the flock, but all God’s children. He especially has a fondness for those who are less than perfect and know it but want to become a part of the flock.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you always” believe these words of Christ, do not run away from Him but run toward His open arms and if need be, let Him carry you through the difficulties of your life. Embrace Him and keep Him close to you always. He is there waiting to hear from you and willing to listen and lead you back onto a safe pasture where you can partake of all God’s blessings and gifts.
God did not want to make your life journey difficult. He only asks that you respect His creation and all His children. As the Gospel proclaims “Other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be but one fold and one shepherd”. We are the voice of the Lord, let us not silence it by prejudice, bigotry, anger, hatred, revenge and greed but shout out the message of Christ for all to hear that Almighty God is a God of compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love and wants all to live in peace and harmony with each other. AMEN