NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024
This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. It is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” because that is the theme of the Gospel text assigned. Before Vatican II began in October 1962, “Good Shepherd Sunday” was on the Third Sunday of Easter. It was pushed back one week to allow more Gospel reading of Jesus’ post-Easter appearances to the Apostles to be read.
Today also marks a shift in the post-Easter Gospel readings. Jesus has little time left walking among His disciples before His Ascension so there is no time for lengthy sermons like “Olivet Discourse” and “The Sermon on the Mount.” Jesus reverts to quick & short poignant lessons of truth and instructions the Apostles will need to know and embrace in order to carry on the work Jesus has started in His 33 years walking among humanity.
The poignant lesson in the assigned text from John 10, in which Jesus makes it crystal clear that God’s people are not limited to the people like us or folks we like, identify with and/or care about. In verses 14 & 16, Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know me,” … (and by the way,) “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So, there will be one flock, one Shepherd.”
We find Jesus’ critical instruction to the disciples (and us), in the text assigned from I John 3:23, “And this is God’s commandment, that we should believe in the name of God’s Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as Jesus has commanded us.”
Join us this Sunday for worship in-person, by Zoom, Facebook Livestream, or YouTube, as my sermon is “The Good Sheperd’s Command: Love One Another!” based on “I John 3:16-19, 23-24” and “John 10:11, 14, 16 & 18.”
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