VOCATION SUNDAY
Acts 4:8-12
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed,
10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.
11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner.12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
1 John 3:1-2;10:11-18
1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
JOHN 10:11-18
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.13 He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.”
MEDITATION
THE FIRST READING features Peter’s testimony that the man he healed did not come about as a result of his human efforts, but was an act of Christ Jesus the one whom the people crucified. Peter implies that his work finds its source in the saving grace of Christ alone.
St JOHN’S EPISTLE describes Christ’s relationship with us as having it’s offspring in the love of the Father, hence we are rightly called His children by our knowing the Father who intimately knows us.
Catec 531 ‘During the greater part of his life Jesus shared the condition of the vast majority of human beings: a daily life spent without evident greatness, a life of manual labor. His religious life was that of a Jew obedient to the law of God,221 a life in the community. From this whole period it is revealed to us that Jesus was “obedient” to his parents and that he “increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.”
THE GOSPEL OF St JOHN uses the imagery of the relationship between a sheep herder and his flock. In ancient times sheep herding was a vocation most suited to single men without children who did not own land to farm. This occupation meant loneliness because the shepherd spent long periods away from family members as they moved their flock from pasture to pasture for better nourishing grazing whilst always on the lookout for predators which could also be false teachers. A sheep’s vision is best whilst their heads are down when grazing,but poor when they lift up their heads,thus the shepherd is on high alert when the sheep is not grazing. The shepherd uses his voice and a wooden staff with a crook at one end to hook a strayed or stubborn sheep toward him.
Our Lord presents Himself as our shepherd. The implication of our being part of His flock presuppose that we submit ourselves to His care and watchful eyes because at the best and worst of times we do not have the wherewithal, cognitive abilities or vision to the extent that we cannot foresee the future never mind our shortcomings. We who have strayed and are lost with no prayer or worship life, overwhelmed by circumstances are called to allow Christ to draw us to Him in and through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist our source of healing, nourishment and protection against evil predators who wish to separate the flock!
Finally, the Church is in need of shepherds and religious sisters to serve in His vineyard. May you be inspired by the stories below and consider a life in Christ Jesus alone.
LET US PRAY: Psalms 118:1,8-9,21-23,26,28-29
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.28 Thou art my God, and I will give thanks to thee; thou art my God, I will extol thee.
29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!
catholicwitnessct@gmail.com Henry R SYLVESTER
Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.
Morning Coffee Meditations. 
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