Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Shepherds In The Church
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
Many today refuse to accept the shepherd image which God attributes to himself (for example, Ez 24), which Christ claims for himself and which he gave to the apostles. Are the faithful no more than docile sheep? Are the pope, bishops and priests who “dominate in the name of truth, repress in the name of morality, and keep ‘the flock’ infantile in the name of God’s goodness” (Bernard Feuillet, Journal de la Vie 78, p. 25)? Not if they understand their mission of service and self-giving. Not if they are shepherds in Christ’s way. Not if they are agents and centres of unity for their people.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
You have appointed shepherds in your Church
to speak your word to us
and to build community in your name.
We pray you today:
May they be shepherds like your Son
who look for those who have lost the way,
bring back the stray, bandage the wounded
and make the weak strong.
May they all be ministers
of your tender love and service,
as Jesus was, your Son and our Lord.
First Reading
Before Agrippa
Some days later, King Agrippa and his sister Bernice arrived in Caesarea to greet Festus. Since they planned to stay there several days, Festus told the king about Paul’s case and said to him:
“We have here a man whom Felix left as a prisoner.
When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews accused him and asked me to sentence him.
I told them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over a man without giving him a chance to defend himself in front of his accusers.
So they came, and I took my seat without delay on the tribunal and sent for the man.
When the accusers had the floor, they did not accuse him of any of the crimes I was led to think he had committed; instead,
they argued with him about religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died but whom Paul claimed to be alive.
I did not know what to do about this case, so I asked Paul if he wanted to go to Jerusalem to be tried there.
But Paul appealed to be judged by the emperor. So I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Simon Peter’s Mission
After they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter:
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He answered:
“Yes, LORD, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said:
“Feed my lambs.”
A second time, Jesus asked him:
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter replied:
“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him:
“Tend of my sheep.”
And a third time, he asked him:
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset because Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he answered:
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus then said:
“Feed my sheep!
Truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted, but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
Jesus said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then he added:
“Follow me!”
Prayers of the Faithful
– Lord, we pray you for your shepherds in the Church. They are our shepherds. May their love overflow on us, their people, we pray:
– Lord, that love may be the key to the living faith of the Church, both in us the faithful and in our leaders, we pray:
– Lord, let the Holy Spirit fill us with a compassionate love for the poor and the weak among us, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
in these signs of bread and wine
your Son comes among us to serve us
and to unite us.
We pray you for those in the Church
whom you have chosen
for a ministry of service.
Human and vulnerable as they are,
may they have the strength
to serve and to unite
and to have for their pastoral concern
May building up communities of faith and love
be their pastoral concern.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Our God, you care for us
through our Lord Jesus Christ, our shepherd,
Let the Holy Spirit inspire and strengthen
those who have a pastoral task in your Church.
Help them to bring out the best in people
and to make all in the community
responsible for making the Church
the sign of Jesus’ presence among people,
that all may recognise him
as our Lord now and forever.
Blessing
REFLECTIONS
John 21:15-19
To love Jesus more than anything else
The Gospel text focuses on Simon Peter. Evangelist John describes Peter’s role in the new community Jesus wants to establish: feeding and caring for the Lord's sheep and bearing witness to Christ through his life. The Gospel, according to John, recovers, so to speak, Peter's role in the mission of love. Only the one who loves his sheep can shepherd his flock gathered by love. Only he who responds to the love of Christ is capable of being responsible for his flock.
Jesus invites Peter to a confession of love. The threefold question of “Do you love me more than these?” seemed to balance Peter’s triple denial of Jesus during his trial. Peter’s denial of Jesus provided the context for what followed. Jesus does not reproach him but just insists on love.
Pastoral ministry is not a position of prestige and power but a vocation to experience the intimate love of the Lord and to share that love and compassion with the sheep entrusted to the pastor’s care.
Peter, who is purified in the fire of forgiveness, could only humbly say, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love you” (Jn 21:17). The mission of the Church is always found in answering the question of Jesus: “Do you love me?” We answer: “Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you”. In this beautiful text, Jesus reminds us that our love for the Lord is manifested only through our love and care for others.
Lord, our God, you have appointed shepherds to speak your word to us and to build your Church. May they be shepherds like your Son who came to search for those who have lost their way, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. May they all be ministers of your tender love and service, as Jesus was, your Son and our Lord.