4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (B)

WORLD DAY OF VOCATIONS - 21 APRIL 2024

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
alleluia. (Ps 32:5-6)

INTRODUCTION
The parable of the Good Shepherd teaches us many important lessons. First of all, Jesus is our
Good Shepherd. Giving protection for the sheep is the duty of a shepherd and the good
shepherd will even give up his life to save his sheep compared to a hireling who will flee when
he sees danger coming. Jesus has laid down his life for his people; his death and resurrection
has already occurred. We have experienced all this and it is our duty to proclaim the message
in which we have found life and salvation. We have the responsibility to take this message
forward. The First Reading records a speech by Peter. In this speech Peter boldly affirms that
the Name of Jesus is the only one Name by which human beings are saved. In the Second
Reading St John writes that because God loves us, He has made us His Children.

INTRODUCTION 2
His Holiness Pope Francis in his message for the World Day of Vocations: “The Lord’s call is not
an intrusion of God in our freedom; it is not a “cage” or a burden to be borne. On the contrary,
it is the loving initiative whereby God encounters us and invites us to be part of a great
undertaking. He opens before our eyes the horizon of a greater sea and an abundant catch.”
The purpose of vocation Sunday is to publicly fulfil the Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of
the harvest to send labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Let us pray that young men
and women hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood and religious life.

I Confess to almighty God/... Glory to God ...

COLLECT
Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock may
reach where the brave shepherd has gone before. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns....

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST READING

In today’s first reading, Peter asserts unequivocally before the Jewish assembly that there is no
salvation except through Christ, the Good Shepherd — the one whom the Jewish leaders have
rejected and crucified and in whose name the apostles preach and heal. Moved by the Holy
spirit he delivers the message of risen Christ. Let us listen to it fervently with deep devotion.
FIRST READING
In this speech Peter boldly affirms that the name of Jesus is the only one Name by which human
beings are saved.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 4:8-12

In those days Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if
we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means
this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you 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. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the
builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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.”
The Word of the Lord

PSALM 118
Response: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Give praise to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever. It is better to take refuge in
the LORD than to trust in man; it is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. R/

I will thank you, for you have answered, and you are my saviour. The stone that the builders
rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done, a marvel in our eyes.
R/

Blest is he who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. You
are my God, I praise you. My God, I exalt you. Give praise to the LORD, for he is good; his mercy
endures forever. R/

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND READING

St John in the second reading sets out the basic effect of the incarnation. Already in this life
men are made children of God, Because we are God’s children here below we shall see him as
he is in the future life. Let us listen to the reading as God’s children.

SECOND READING
St John writes that though the world has rejected God’s Son, God the Father has adopted all of
us as His children.

A reading from the First Letter of St John 3:1-2

Beloved, see what kind of love the Father has given to 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.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know
that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
The Word of the Lord

ALLELUIA
Alleluia. Alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own, and my own know me.
Alleluia. (Jn 10:14)

GOSPEL
The parable of the Good Shepherd is one of the best-known parables in the Gospel of John.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 10:11-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for
the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the
wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd.
I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I
lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them
also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason,
the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from
me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to
take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
The Gospel of the Lord

I believe in God, /....

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Cel: Dear brothers and sisters, on this Good Shepherd Sunday let us strengthen our resolve to
commit ourselves to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. A hired shepherd may abandon his sheep
when faced threat from wild animals, but Jesus, our Shepherd, died for us. Let us now place
our petitions before Jesus our Good Shepherd, saying,

Response: May our Good Shepherd guide us.

1. For the pope, the bishops, the clergy and the religious that as shepherds of the flock of Christ
they may guide and protect them, we pray … R/

2. For Christian churches, that they may remain faithful to the gospel of Jesus and may remain
committed to spread its message far and wide, we pray … R/
3. For peace in the world that the countries may not enter into conflicts and fight against one
another and that harmony and mutual acceptance of one another may prevail, we pray … R/

4. For our own nation which is a union of different states, languages and cultures but united as
a single nation, that the people may be blessed for the tolerance and respect they show for one
another, we pray … R/

5. For all of us present for this Eucharistic celebration that inspired by the example of Jesus
who died for his people, we too may die to our selfishness and narrow-mindedness, we pray
…R/

Cel: God, our Father, we thank you for shepherding over us even when we stray away from your
protective fold. Having Jesus as our Good Shepherd, we have no fear or anxiety. Give us the
grace that we may remain faithful to him. We make this prayer ....

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may always find delight in these paschal mysteries, so that the
renewal constantly at work within us may be the cause of our unending joy. Through Christ our
Lord.

PREFACE III (EASTER)

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, at all times to acclaim you, O Lord, but on
this night above all to laud you yet more gloriously, when Christ our Passover has been
sacrificed.
He never ceases to offer himself for us but defends us and ever pleads our cause before you;
he is the sacrificial Victim who dies no more, the Lamb, once slain, who lives forever.
Therefore, overcome with paschal joy, every land, every people exults in your praise and even
the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as
they acclaim:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts...

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his
flock, alleluia.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Look upon your flock, kind Shepherd, and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures the sheep
you have redeemed by the Precious Blood of your Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.