ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Praise to you, our Risen Lord and eternal Shepherd...now and forever!

Dear Friends,

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter in the Bicentennial Jubilee Year of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, I welcome all of you to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. How fitting it is on this Good Shepherd Sunday that we welcome and celebrate together with our brothers and sisters with disabilities, the deaf community, their families, friends and care providers. Our celebration today is a beautiful manifestation of the Church. I welcome you in the name of Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and proclaim with the Church’s love the words of Psalm 100: "Know that the Lord is God, he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends." As we celebrate together the mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection through word and sacrament, Jesus our Risen Lord and Shepherd is here with us.

Your presence here and your faithful response to the call of the Good Shepherd gave me great joy as I prayed the opening prayer in today’s liturgy: "Though your people walk in the valley of darkness, no evil should they fear; for they follow in faith the call of the shepherd whom you have sent for their hope and strength. Attune our minds to the sound of his voice, lead our steps in the path he has shown, that we may know the strength of his outstretched arm and enjoy the light of your presence for ever." You who are unable to see yet envision God’s bountiful love; you who may not hear but heed God’s call to love and service, to you who may not walk but follow the path of the Good Shepherd—you are truly God’s faith-filled disciples. God is offering you His outstretched arm as He longs for you to enjoy the light and joy of His bountiful love. May our gathering together today help to reaffirm that we are God’s people, the flock He tends with love. May we with open and generous hearts commit ourselves to following the Good Shepherd always.

Often the Church and her people are described as a sheepfold with Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Sometimes this image can lose its deep and powerful meaning. Today’s readings bring to light the image Jesus often used to describe himself. It is an image that can only be fully understood when we envision Jesus on the Cross, a Shepherd who willingly laid down His life for His sheep, who died for His flock, and, now risen, offers us eternal life.

In our first reading today, we see Paul and Barnabas continuing to proclaim God’s word with hope and joy even in the midst of persecution. Paul, rebuffed by his own people, does not lose heart and the accounts in the Acts of the Apostles continually remind us that good often flows from misfortune. Paul’s missionary efforts are beset with rejection and countless difficulties and yet God crowned Paul’s efforts with success and the Church spread by leaps and bounds. In the Acts of the Apostles we read: "...the following Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord" (Acts 13:44).

Our lives too are often beset with difficulties and hardships day after day. For us also, the struggles in life can become moments of grace. This is not always easy for us to see at the time of trial. It takes the perseverance that is God’s great gift. Keeping faith alive in the midst of hardship and struggle is the real sermon that you are able to preach in life. Our Lord Jesus Christ exemplified this most eloquently in His Death on the Cross. Although He was wounded, unable to move and seemingly helpless, His great act of love won for us our salvation.

In our second reading from the Book of Revelation we see painted before our eyes the magnificent vision of those who have attained salvation: "a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count from every nation, race, people and tongue" (Rev 7:9). We are told that these are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; their robes are washed in the blood of the lamb. We wish to be among them, for the Lamb, Christ Jesus, " who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Rev 7:17).

Today’s Gospel, dear friends, gives us the words of Jesus, so powerful in this Liturgy, which remind us that He is truly the Good Shepherd, and that we who follow Him belong to Him and to no other. Jesus promises us eternal life and that we shall never perish. Jesus promises that no one can take us from His hands. What words of encouragement we hear proclaimed today! Words of encouragement that can keep us going in times of struggle and frustration! We are Christ’s and Christ is God’s! With the help of Jesus and His Blessed Mother Mary, no path is too steep, no burden too heavy to bear. We are in God’s hands and no one can snatch us away.

Praised be Jesus Christ! Amen.