A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
This weekend is very special as we celebrate multiple joyous occasions. Thumping with Easter joy already, we also celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, World Day of praying for Vocations and Mothers’ Day.
I remember last year, on Good Shepherd Sunday, towards the end of the Mass, I was asking the children questions like I usually do. The question was who do they see as the Good Shepherd in their lives. The kids came up with several answers like, mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, gg (great grands) teacher etc. Yet I was not fully content with their answers as I expected that some child would recognize himself or herself by saying, ‘I am the Good Shepherd of my family’.
Having nothing more to say, there came absolute silence. Yet still, I kept on pushing for some more replies from them. Finally, one child raised her hand. Everyone in the pews and myself looked at her so keenly and intently at what she would say. Still raising her hand and with a little pause she said: “At home we have a German Shepherd”.
On this Mothers’ Day weekend, I gratefully pray for all the mothers for your sacrificial love for the family and our community.
On this World Day of praying for Vocations, let us continue to pray for the next Good Shepherd.
May it be in the family, Clergy or the Community, let us always remember the words of Jesus: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me”.
Everyone has the basic need to be known and to be loved. Following Jesus could happen by knowing Him as a Shepherd and others as the sheep, and ‘knowing’ comes through humble learning and not by arrogant judging. In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas expressed their experience in leading the Gentiles to know Jesus. They were successful in bringing faith in the Lord to so many people.
The great love of Jesus has washed everyone with his blood as we read in the second reading. Mothers with their love, Clergy with the love of Christ and sacrifice are specially called to lead the family and community in Christ’s love.
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
Reading 1: Acts of the Apostles 13:14, 43-52
Reading 2: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
Gospel: John 10:27-30
