The Fourth Sunday of Easter - May 11, 2025 (Year C)

This week, I am drawn to the same underlying message laid out in all of the readings this week, and its importance necessitates that I focus solely on it.  In the Gospel, we hear Jesus's words that He is our shepherd and has given us Eternal Life.  This is played out in the following of Paul and Barnabas through their preaching and we see the ultimate reflection of this in John's vision in Revelation.  What this means cannot be understated.  God made a covenant with descendants of Abraham, and only with them, and yet, through His Son, Jesus, the covenant has been expanded.  Not only are all who listen and follow welcome to partake, but eternal life has been promised through Jesus's Resurrection.  

Let that sink in.  At one point, the Israelites were the Chosen, the people destined to receive God's protection and grace.  But now, through Jesus, God has extended that special relationship to every single one of us.  We all now have the chance to live in His Love for eternally, if only we choose to do so.  The New Covenant that became Christianity was built by many of those newcomers and outsiders, albeit on the strong foundation of that initial promise from God to the Jewish people.  Every single person we meet is loved by God and has the choice to live within His Grace and build on the great tradition.  We must keep this in mind in all that we do, as every interaction provides the opportunity to help another along their journey.

Disclaimer: This will be at the bottom of all reflections, but I’m not intending to put out any sort of professional critique, attempt at a homily, or investigation into the historicity of the readings, but will “let the Spirit move me” as some say, to share what has spoken to me in my reading and reflection on the set of Readings for each week.  

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