In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so please feel free to share with others these homilies and your own personal faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.
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First reading: Acts 13:14, 43-52
Responsorial: Psalm 100 "We are his people: the sheep of his pasture!"
Second reading: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
Alleluia. Alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and my own know me. Alleluia.
Gospel: John 10:27-30
Christ is risen, alleluia!
Jubilee of Hope: We are all of us "Pilgrims of Hope" - Pope Francis started and Pope Leo XIV is continuing with us on this journey.
May is the month of Mary, Mother of God and our Mother.
This 4th Sunday of Easter is called "Good Shepherd Sunday" because of the Gospel. It is World Day of Prayer for Vocations: to the priesthood, to religious life, and to Marriage.
Today is also Mothers' Day in Canada and in many countries of the world. At the very least, our mothers gave us birth and life. A mother is at the heart of a family. The CCCB have given us this coming week as "National Family and Life Week". This is in response to the reality that all is not well with marriages, families, or with the value and dignity of human life.
The Word of God
We live our lives between the joy which God gives and many tears. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see Jesus' disciples filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. The Apostle John, in his Book of Revelation, the Lord shows him "those who have come out of the great ordeal (persecution and the troubles of this life) and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb... the Lamb... will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Jesus is the GOOD SHEPHERD. We are safe in his hands.
When we try to carry the world on our shoulders, we suffer loneliness; as if we were sheep without a shepherd. Jesus loves us and as the Good Shepherd, offers to lead us out of danger or through our troubles into green pastures where we can rest; IF ONLY we will trust Him completely and follow Him.
Jesus fills us with the Holy Spirit... who brings peace and joy in the truth of God's love in us. How are we to remain filled with the Holy Spirit, who brings peace and joy in the truth of God's love in us?
1. We must try to give the first place in our lives to God's presence and his love for us.
2. We are to love our neighbour and stop worrying about ourselves, which leaves us free to notice others, go to them, welcome them and care for them.
3. So, we are to trust in God, stop worrying about ourselves, and be free to notice others, go to others, and welcome and care for them.
This is what Pope Francis called "The Joy of the Gospel", which is the joy of encountering others; only to discover in the encounter that God is already present in the other and is pleased to meet with human beings.
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In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so please feel free to share with others these homilies and your own personal faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.
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© 2006-2025 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2006-2025 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC
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