This Week's Letter From Father

Fourth Sunday of Easter B                          April 21, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The farther away from Easter Sunday we are, the more we have to remind ourselves that we are still in Easter season. All will know we are followers of the risen Jesus by the love we have for one another expressed in word and deed.

The first reading (Acts 4:8-12) depicts transformed apostles: Peter and John who preached the news that changed their lives. Peter, who not long ago publicly denied Jesus, now, no longer intimidated, gives bold testimony about him in front of Jewish leaders. As Jesus was questioned on whose authority he performed miracles, Peter too, is questioned by the Sanhedrin about the source of authority upon which he has restored the crippled beggar to health in the Jerusalem Temple. “It was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.”

By God’s grace, Peter grew from a coward to become a strong leader of the community courageously witnessing to the risen Jesus, inviting others to follow the Lord. Quoting Psalm 118:22 he affirms that Jesus, the rejected stone, is the cornerstone of the Church.

The image of the shepherd is common throughout the pages of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Not only leaders, rulers of the people (Moses, David) or prophets are described as shepherds but also God of Israel.

In contrast to God who is committed to the well-being of all, the kings are often depicted as careless and unfaithful to those entrusted to them.

Today’s Gospel reading (John 10:11-18) presents Jesus as a good (in Greek, kalos), exemplary shepherd. “I am the good shepherd.” This image echoes Ezekiel 34:11-11. Subsequently the shepherd who knows his sheep, alludes to Isaiah 40:11.

The older generations remember stained-glass windows or holy cards with sentimental depictions of Jesus as a good shepherd wearing a pristine clean robe unstained by sheep manure or sweat, and carrying in one hand a pure white lamb, and in the other hand, a shepherd’s crook.

Biblical scholar Sister Carol Dempsey wrote: “The image of the divine as a good shepherd in Psalm 23 and John 10:1-10 is a beautiful one. But as beloved as the image of shepherd and sheep is among biblical readers, the metaphors are problematic. Comparing the divine to shepherd and people to sheep sets up a hierarchical relationship between humans and divine and reduces the intelligence of humans who, if like sheep, will always be dependent, subservient and deprived of full agency. Heard in the context of the Roman Catholic Church today, where bishops and other Vatican officials view themselves as “shepherds”, the reading supports their efforts and expectations to have people follow them undeservedly.”

Jesus formed the community of brothers and sisters based on the principle of equality. An eminent Biblical scholar, Elisabeth Schussler-Fiorenza, and many scholars after her, call it a discipleship of equals. Jesus incorporated women in his ministry. They followed him as disciples, supported his activities financially, were present at the cross, and were the sole percipient witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection.

Let us give women their due voice as witnesses to our risen life in the Lord.

The second reading (1 John 3:1-2), written by a member of the Johannine community but attributed to the Fourth Evangelist, stresses the fact that because of the great love of God for us, we are “God’s children”. Our final transformation will take place when we meet God face to face and see God as God is. Let us remain in the Lord.
                             ……
I was honored to baptize Miah Judith Moreno. It was a happy celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism. May the Lord Jesus watch over you always on your journey of faith.

The Dolphins visited me for the 50th time!!! I would like to think they are showing off for me.

I also saw otters for the third time and the rabbit visited me twice. Even the wild horses came to say hello a few times.

Thank you, Marilyn and Steven Vogios for inviting me to Easter dinner at a local restaurant. I enjoyed sharing company with both of you and Linda. It was a lovely afternoon. Christos Anesti!

Thank you, Mary and Maher Saikali for inviting me to dinner on Good Friday. It was an enjoyable evening spending time with you and your family. I am looking forward to the birth of your granddaughter.

Thank you, Dolores Salas, for your gift of two volumes of the Lectionary for Weekday Mass.

These two volumes include a two-year cycle for the weekday Mass readings (Year 1 and Year 2). Year 1 is used in odd-numbered years and Year 2 is read in even-numbered years.

With continued prayers,
Fr. Ryszard