OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH

4th Sunday of Easter

May 3, 2020

Brothers, Sisters, and Friends of O.L.P.H.,

Since the thirteenth century, Christians have

specially dedicated the month of May to our

Blessed Mother.

Even more so over the past eight centuries

have our popes encouraged honoring Mary

in special ways during May. Those of us who

remember Pope Pius XII might recall how he

made frequent references to this in his great

encyclical, On the Sacred Liturgy.

[Saint] Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical on the

Month of May, wrote that, during this

month, uthe benefits of God's mercy come down to us from [Mary's] throne in greater abundance. 11 He encouraged devotion to

Blessed Mother as a means of attaining

world peace.

In May of 2002, [Saint] Pope John Paul II said,

'Today we ... continue to make the month of May a 'Marian month,' celebrating it with many devout initiatives. 11

Pope Benedict XVI proposed that May could

be a time to rediscover Blessed Mother's

role in Christian life. When the apostles

gathered with her after the Resurrection, she was for them .-✓mother and teacher, a role she continues to carry out for Christians of all times,,, the Holy Father said.

And now, during this global pandemic, Pope

Francis has entrusted the whole world to the

protection of our Blessed Mother, asking her

to pray for the world and inviting the world

to see her as the Mother of Divine Love, who

heals, protects and watches over her people.

Every one of the popes has invited us to

rediscover during the month of May the

maternal role that Mary carries out in our

lives, so that we may always be faithful

disciples and courageous witnesses of our Risen Lord.

May we look to our Blessed Mother as our

greatest example and guide in holiness and

faithfulness to her Son.

Peace and Blessings,

Father Conrad

Fourth Sunday of Easter Lectionary: 49

Reading 1

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: "Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call."

He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

Responsorial Psalm

R (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or: R Alleluia.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.

R The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or: R Alleluia.

He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage. R The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or: R Alleluia.

You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. R The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or: R Alleluia.

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

for years to come. R The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or: R Alleluia.

Readin~ 2

Beloved: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Gospel

Jesus said: "Amen, mnen, 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 the shepherd 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, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

For you had gone astray like sheep, So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. I am the gate for the sheep.

Alleluia

R Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;

I know my sheep, and mine know me. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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."

TODAY'S MINI-HOMILY

In the first reading we are given an extract

from St. Peter's speech to the crowd on the

Day of Pentecost, when, after explaining

what happened to Jesus, he made a plea for them to repent. Today's Gospel is an

explanation by Jesus about His role as the

Shepherd of His Flock. Jesus makes it clear

that He is the protector and guide of His

sheep, and that He deeply loves them (us).

On the Day of Pentecost, after the great

sound of wind and the tongues of fire

descending upon the heads of the apostles,

they went out to teach and lead and guide

the people as shepherds delegated by the

Risen Christ.

We know, of course, that this continues in

the Church right up to the present day as the

pope, bishops, priests and deacons continue

the work of the apostles, carrying on Christ's

work of shepherding-leading, guiding, and

protecting His flock, the Church, with care

and concern; explaining the scriptures and

the Church's doctrines to the community;

warning them about error; and comforting them in times of need.

We see that the role of the ordained leaders

of the Church is to help the faithful to remain

close to the gospel values, to enable them to

grow in their knowledge of-and love for­

God, to guide them in the ways of truth, and,

of course, to lead the community of the

faithful in the worship and adoration of God.

This role of leading and guiding the people of

God also means encouraging those with the

ability to use their talents in the service of

others, so that the whole community can

grow in loving and serving God.

This annual Sunday of the Good Shepherd is

one on which we call attention to the

vocations of priesthood, diaconate, and the

religious life. The life and healthy growth of

the Church depends on the shepherding role

of these vocations.

However, the declining numbers coming

forward to fulfil these positions in the

Church presents us all with a problem. As

the ranks are being spread thinner and aging

rapidly, we are approaching a crisis in the

Church. The sharp decline in numbers of

priests and especially religious is a problem

that we need to solve.

If we were all stronger in our faith, all a bit

better in inculcating the faith in our children,

all more fervent in our Christian duties, more

vocations would very likely come forward. If

our young people grew up in circumstances

that enabled them to be firm and lasting

believers, then, undoubtedly, more would

be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to

embrace a priestly and/or religious vocation.

Catholic families need to pray together-at

the very least, beginning every meal with a

grace--and talk about the Faith together,

maybe starting, for example, by sharing

ideas about the homily or weekly bulletin

column over Sunday lunch . ... May we all ask

God to bless us with more priests, religious,

and deacons, and with our prayers, support

those who are discerning God's cal l.

Peace and Blessings,

Father Conrad

Ma1rers-·.01 Lite ana veatn·

S heep are a lot smarter than some people t.hlhk. They recognize the voice of tl:ieir particular

. shepherd and follow that voice alone. However,_that is .. not the point of Jesus; teachlrig today. Because most · of us don't raise sheep 'c:>r know Diuch about them, we :don,t-realize that t)le situation described.in the Gospel passage is·a matter of life and death.

It's similar ~o the relationship ·between a military . . . . .,, · : sq~d }eader and the troops he leads, another life- ·

•and-dea~ niatter .. In both, unqu~9oning°ooedience·is · . required; ·and: _absC?lute ~tin the qtheds 'presunied. : • :· . · .. 'J'hat's·:What Jesus is desqibing: He's suggesting~ ..

. . ~listen to·me. Follow my lead. Trust hi me. I~t only : vmatjs: good for you__,, so I will be·your sure protection."'

·n sounds so ~asy, as parables and metaphors usually do. Wha~ does it mean to follow this Shepherd? In the fust reading~ Peter announces the answer in one word:_ "Repent!" There is that diallengingword-the word

we might associate with Lent, no! with Easter. If we · do so, we miss the point of following the Shepherd, for to follow him means to be like mm: It means: "Repent! Stop taldng advantage of other people. Open your minds and hearts to newcomers. Respect those . . who observe different religious traditi.ons. Help those less fortunate than you."' All of this is cap_tured in the final words of tJie Gospel reading: do what you can so that all "might have life ~d have it more abundantly"'

. Oohn 10:10)~ Clearly, that's smart. . . . . - .

· . . · ·· - Sr.-JJ!.anne Bergant, CS4 ,.

. ( ..... FOR ·Reftecti,o,~ :.: ......... : ........ ~ .. , .......................... [ * On what path might the Shepherd be leading you?

* In what area is he calling you to repent?

.•.......•••..••.......•••••.....•....•....•.......•.• - ...•..... ........••.. c.to;lOI.igll/Jri~•Liguori.f,(063057 9'J'J9 , ·····~··-··· .. •·-·········· ··-···•········ ·········-··-·-········

How will it happen that Jesus will come again and lead us "through the gates"?

. _ ._ ....... ,--~ -

.we ha~e i.t from the be~t ~f authorities that the date of the world's j, · · end ·is hidden. Jesus said, But of that day and hour no one knows ... bµt the Father alone" (Matthew 24:36). In spite of Christ's admonition that the day of his Second Coming is known but to God, there have been countless false prophets who have confidently but incorrectly predicted a date for the end of the world. Most of these foolish forecasters based their claims on

. misinterpretations of the Book of Revelation. The main purpose of the Book of Revelation is to assure us that God's power

will prevail. In the ongoing struggle between good and evil, there are times when evil seems to have tp.e upper hand. No matt~r: Evil will be conquered and God's .rule will extend over'all creation.

The world might end totriorrow, or next year, or in five billion years. Jes:us tells us we can't know fQr.sure. We are sure; howeyer, that this world will pass away. And for each one of us the world wiil end at the moment of death. What matters is that we should always be ready to meet Christ.

And we shall be ready if we follow.Christ, our Shepherd, whom we meet in today's Gospel. Jesus leads us safely through this life by his teaching, his example, and his grace.

-Fr. Oscar Lukefahr, CM SundavhullP.tin@Umori.orK

ANOTHER PRAYER IN THE TIME OF A PANDEMIC

Lord Jesus, Who promised to remain with us always,

When information overwhelms us and fear overtakes us,

speak again to us those comforting words, //Peace be with you. N

Though we cannot be physically close to others,

give us the ability and courage to love as well as we can,

since perfect love casts out all fear.

Direct your gazing care on doctors and nurses,

researchers and safety personnel;

come to strengthen the sick and the vulnerable,

and comfort those who are grief-stricken.

And when the pandemic has passed

and this frightening crisis is resolved,

teach us to know You more certainly

as our dearest Friend and only Hope.

You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever. Amen.

(offer one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be)

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.