FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Good Shepherd Sunday • Vocations Sunday
In 1934 the Berlin Church began a Day of Prayer
for priests and seminarians. With the rise to power
of the National Socialists it was clear that in the
years ahead there would be a lot of difficulties
for priests. The idea and practice spread to other
countries. In 1964 Pope St. Paul VI established this
day as a ‘World Day of Prayer’ for vocations. Our
reflection on this day is centred on the beautiful
image of the Good Shepherd, an image that speaks
of tenderness, care and protection.
Christ is the Good Shepherd and His sheepfold is
the Church in which He bestows His life through
the sacraments. The gate to His sheepfold provides
entry to the fullness of life. This is what Jesus
desires for all, that we enjoy life to the full here and
hereafter. We do not live our faith in isolation. We
are not lone sheep in the world. We are members
of a flock. We belong to one another and to Christ.
A Christian alone is a Christian in danger. We are
sometimes scattered, divided, but Christ seeks to
bring us together, to unite us in one fold. May
we all respond to the voice of the Shepherd as He
beckons us to that fold and therein may we in turn
be shepherds for others.