The Daily Readings for SUNDAY, April 22, 2018 - Forth Sunday of Easter

Daily Readings

SUNDAY, April 22, 2018 - Forth Sunday of Easter

(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)

Opening Sentence

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

~ 1 Corinthians 15:57

Prayer of the Day (Collect)

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;  but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

~ 1 John 1:5b-8

We serve a risen Savior yet live as if in chains. Forgive us, Lord that we are so hesitant to live the resurrection life. Forgive us that we fail to show through word and action the truth that you loved us into your kingdom through the glorious mystery of the Cross. Forgive us that there is still fear in our lives that prevents us from achieving our full potential. Draw us close. Open our eyes to the glory of the risen Christ, our hearts to the wonder of the Cross and our hands to the service of your kingdom where you have placed us, that your name might be glorified through our lives. Amen.

The Lessons

The First Lesson

Acts 4:5-12
4:5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11 This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

The Response

Psalm 23 Dominus regit me
1 The Lord is my shepherd; *

I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *

and leads me beside still waters.

3 He revives my soul *

and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *

for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *

you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Epistle

1 John 3:16-24
3:16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

The Gospel

John 10:11-18
10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Apostle's Creed

We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

We believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Benediction

May the great Shepherd of the flock, by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, bless us and keep us. Amen.

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

~ Numbers 6:22-27

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
Jesus said “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...”

The Good Shepherd - The Sermon for SUNDAY, April 22, 2018 - Forth Sunday of Easter

“The Good Shepherd”

10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

~ John 10:11-18

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

In a popular movie from a few years back, the main character, a gung-ho SEAL from Odessa, Texas, tells his listeners that there are three kinds of people: wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs. The wolves prey on the sheep, the sheep cower in fear, and the sheepdogs protect the sheep from the wolves. It’s an analogy that has caught on in American culture, especially in the debate over self-defense and public policy.

But we are not called to apply the superficial wisdom of American culture to reshape our Christian identity. We are called to alert Americans to the wisdom of Christian culture that is given to us by Our Lord. It is summarized in the words of St. John’s letter, three verses that are so brief they might have flown right over our heads: “Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” God, in His love, made man and woman in the family likeness of the Blessed Trinity. We turned our backs on that identity. But God, in His love, seeks to renew the human race by remaking us in the image of Jesus Christ. That is why Christ suffered, died and rose and sent the Holy Spirit, to redeem us and make us like Jesus, like Mary, perfectly attuned to the will of the Father.

In the Acts of the Apostles, we see, over and over, that the early members of the Church went to their Jewish brothers and sisters with a simple statement of God’s good news. They wanted to bring the synagogue and the temple to its fulfillment in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who had transformed their lives and brought them to peace and unity. But they were working against a long historical narrative. The Jewish people of that day knew Jesus as a wonder worker, but one whom their own leaders had condemned as a traitor, a blasphemer, and had handed over to the Romans to crucify. The disciples had seen Him alive and in glory, and would never deny that, even under torture and death. But for most of the Jews it was news that was too unbelievable, too good. Nonetheless, the believers continued to spread the news, and it has diffused over all the world in every age, to us who are blessed in its presence, its truth, its goodness, its beauty. God’s steadfast love endures forever.

But there are wolves. The doctrine of Original Sin reminds us that there is a fallen-ness in each of us that, if it is not redeemed, can turn us into wolves. As wolves, we deny our call to be images of God and we prey on the sheep. That is, we fail to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We know that people mired in sin suffer changes in their brain chemistry that makes it easier to commit the next sin. The really begin to believe that good is evil and evil is good. That’s why we work hard with our children to teach them the great twin commandment of love. And that’s why changing the law is a toothless way to change wolves into sheep.

Instead, let’s look at the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who images the person we should be becoming. The Good Shepherd stays with the flock. They do not cower in fear because He is with them. He lays down His life so that they may live forever. And even when this life ends, the sheep are confident that they will live forever in His presence. The pledge of that promise is this Mass, and the Bread of Life and Cup of Blessing we share that brings us together in the one flock.

But, our practical mind says, what about Sutherland Springs, Columbine, Charleston, Parkland, London Bridge, Nice, France? What about the real terrorist wolves preying on sheep? We all have opinions on the short-term solution, if there is one. But there is only one real long-term solution. We need to solve the problem where it originates, in the hardness of the human heart.

Why is it that when we get upset, we don’t even think about taking a gun or a knife or a bomb and killing someone else? I don’t think it has anything to do with civil law, or fear of being caught and punished. (I hope that’s not the reason.) I hope that the reason is that our hearts are beating so in time with the Sacred Heart of Jesus that we want only good for our neighbor, even the jerks of the world. The grace of Christ has changed our minds and hearts.

So the long-term solution is what Jesus commanded in Matthew’s Gospel. We must all be evangelists, helping people to see the attractiveness of living with Christ. By example first of all, and by words when possible, we must bring them to the love of God we find in Christ.

Good Shepherd of the flock, you tend and feed and protect your chosen people and only ask us to put our trust in your loving care.  As host you entertain us at your welcome table and anoint us with your Holy Spirit.  Make us ever thankful for all your blessings, O Savior of the world, living and reigning with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen

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The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. Sermon contributed by Deacon Pat Cunningham, St. Pius X Catholic Church, San Antonio, Texas on Apr 15, 2018.
We are not called to apply the superficial wisdom of American culture to reshape our Christian identity. We are called to alert Americans to the wisdom of Christian culture that is given to us by Our Lord.

The Morning Prayer for SUNDAY, April 22, 2018 - Forth Sunday of Easter

Good Shepherd of the flock, you tend and feed and protect your chosen people and only ask us to put our trust in your loving care.  As host you entertain us at your welcome table and anoint us with your Holy Spirit.  Make us ever thankful for all your blessings, O Savior of the world, living and reigning with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

Amen

Verse of the Day for SUNDAY, April 22, 2018 - Forth Sunday of Easter

John 10:11 (NIV) (Jesus said) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Read all of John 10

Listen to John 10

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Sin que descuides lo tuyo

Sin que descuides lo tuyo

El temor del Señor es el principio del conocimiento; los necios desprecian la sabiduría y la disciplina.

~ Proverbios 1:7 (NVI)

Este devocional forma parte del tema anterior: El servicio a Dios debe ser equilibrado por completo.

No debemos abandonar nuestra familia por servir en la obra de Dios. De ahí que el Señor sea el único capaz de ayudarnos a equilibrar nuestro trabajo.

He tenido la oportunidad de conocer algunos casos cercanos. Se trata de jóvenes procedentes de familias pastorales que están cansados de vivir solos en sus casas. No tienen una vida en familia como los demás, ni tienen derecho a la privacidad ni en su casa. El problema es que la casa pastoral vive repleta de gente cualquier día de la semana, ni hablar el día del servicio. Tampoco se puede pensar en salir de vacaciones, pues papá o mamá están con agendas repletas de compromisos de la iglesia.

Esta es una exhortación muy especial que tengo para ti pastor, pastora, líder, capellán o cualquiera que sea tu posición. El servicio a Dios es el mayor privilegio que tú y yo podemos experimentar. Es gratificante y muy bien remunerado por Dios.

Sin embargo, no olvides que antes de servir a Dios, tu primer ministerio, tu primera obra, es cuidar de tu familia. No la descuides, pues te necesita.

Pídele a Dios que te dé el tiempo perfecto y que logres ser el mejor de los padres.

Hay un orden ya establecido por nuestro Señor. Tú con Dios como cabeza, tu familia, primera obligación, el trabajo y la iglesia.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
No debemos abandonar nuestra familia por servir en la obra de Dios.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - THE SHIELD OF FAITH

THE SHIELD OF FAITH

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

~ Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)

The Roman shield was the defensive piece of armor that was almost always used together with the sword. It was used to ward off a blow from the opponent while making your own sword-thrust. Likened to a shield, our faith in God is that piece of spiritual armor that enables us to withstand attacks by the enemy that are too much for the mind and body. The shield of faith has a three-fold duty.

1. It is a saving faith that is the inward confidence in God.

2. It is a serving faith that inspires our servant hood.

3. It is a sanctifying faith that lays hold of the power of God for our daily lives.

When you come under enemy fire, take shelter behind your faith in God. Do not be deceived by circumstances and events. Walk by faith, not by sight. Be confident that God has secured victory. Stake your life on His faithfulness. Trust Him to deliver you as you wear the shield of faith.

A colleague tells the story of Gabriel in violence plagued Colombia. His calling is to share the gospel with guerrilla soldiers hiding in the mountains. As he approaches a camp site with his bag of Spanish Bibles, a perimeter guard often steps out and sticks his AK-47 in Gabriel’s stomach.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to tell you about the love of Jesus which you can read about in these books.”

“We don’t want your books. Get lost or I’ll kill you!”

It’s at this point that Gabriel’s faith rises. Pushing the barrel of the gun aside he casually answers, “No you won’t! You can’t kill me until God says you can kill me,” and he boldly walks ahead into the camp where he distributes Bibles and preaches the gospel to those who will listen. He is still on the trail and has not been killed yet. He is convinced the day will come when his life will be taken. But his faith is solidly grounded in the assurance that it will only happen in God’s will. Meanwhile he is a powerful witness to the truth of the Gospel because of his faith.

RESPONSE: Today I take the shield of faith so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.

PRAYER: Lord, help me be strong in faith, ready for Satan’s fiery darts of doubt, denial and deceit. Give me bold faith like Gabriel’s.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Devotion - April 22, 2018 - Not What Was Expected

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Not What Was Expected"

Apr. 22, 2018

(John said) "I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

~ Matthew 3:11 (ESV)

Things and people aren't always what they seem to be, are they?

It was only a few years ago that my heroes were the super athletes who rushed for touchdowns, who threw no-hitters, or who could hit a homer or a hole-in-one. Today, my heroes have changed. Today, I respect the person who wears the helmet of a fireman not a football player. I honor the humble policeman who rushes to help a trapped motorist rather than the prima donna who rushes for a touchdown and does a dance in the end zone.

In my opinion, the rock star at his concert has been pushed aside by the teacher in her classroom. The actor who has an opinion on everything has been supplanted by faithful fathers and committed mothers who know only one thing: they want their children to love and be loved by Jesus.

People aren't always what they seem to be.

That is certainly the case when it comes to Jesus. He is hardly ever what people expect. In the Gospel of Mark, the first chapter, we see John the Baptist giving a mighty powerful introduction to the Christ who is soon to arrive. The Baptizer is saying to get ready -- One mightier than me is coming!

Coming from the lips of John, those words were quite an endorsement. I mean, after all, John the Baptist was a pretty impressive, a very special, fellow. John looked special. He ate special. He dressed special. And, most importantly, John talked special. When he preached, his proclamation was passionate and powerful. There was no pussyfooting around when John opened his mouth. If you had made mistakes, he pointed them out in vibrant, living color.

That's why, when John said a Man mightier than me is coming, the people sat up and paid attention. They were impressed and filled with anticipation. Maybe this new mighty Man might take care of them. Maybe He might feed them or heal them. Maybe He might kick the Romans -- with their bags and baggage -- right out of the country. Nobody knew what this mightier Man might do, but that didn't stop each of them from having hopes and dreams about the mightier Man who was right around the corner.

And then, just as John had promised, Jesus came. The Man who was mightier than John showed up.

Was His a mighty arrival? Was His coming everything that everybody had expected? You would never, not in a hundred years, guess what really happened. Let me simply say Jesus wasn't who or what they expected.

Rather than ruling, Jesus came as a Servant and a Savior. Rather than hanging with the rich and famous, He spoke with the sinner, the Samaritan, the leper, and the possessed. Like John He condemned sin, but He also showed people the Lord was ready to forgive sins. Rather than conquering the Romans, He gave His life and, in so doing, defeated sin, death, and devil.

He, my friends, was and is mightier than John. He is the Christ and He is our Savior. For Him, we give thanks.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for my many sins I offer sincere repentance. For the Savior who has removed those sins, I offer thanksgiving and unending praise. May I always be faithful to the One who was greater than John: Jesus, God's Son, my Savior. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Things and people aren't always what they seem to be, are they?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Dieu dans les détails

Dieu dans les détails

Lisez : Matthieu 10.29-31

La Bible en un an : 2 Samuel 14 – 15 ; Luc 17.1-19

L’Éternel est bon envers tous, et ses compassions s’étendent sur toutes ses œuvres. Psaume 145.9

Lorsque mon chiot Labrador couleur chocolat avait 3 mois, je l’ai amené chez la vétérinaire pour qu’il y reçoive ses vaccins et son examen de routine. En l’examinant, elle a remarqué une petite tache blanche dans le pelage de sa patte arrière gauche. En souriant, elle lui a dit : « C’est par là que Dieu te tenait quand il t’a trempé dans le chocolat. »

Je n’ai pu m’empêcher de rire. Reste qu’elle avait affirmé quelque chose d’important au sujet de l’intérêt profond et personnel que Dieu porte à sa création.

Jésus nous dit dans Matthieu 10.30 que « même les cheveux de “notre” tête sont tous comptés ». Dieu est tellement grand qu’il lui est possible de porter un intérêt infini à notre vie jusque dans ses moindres détails. Il n’y a rien qui soit assez petit pour lui échapper, et il n’existe rien de trop insignifiant pour que nous le lui soumettions. C’est dire tout l’amour qu’il a pour nous !

Non seulement Dieu nous a‑t‑il créés, mais aussi il nous soutient et nous garde en toute situation. On dit parfois que « le diable est dans les détails ». Il n’en demeure pas moins qu’il est préférable d’y voir plutôt Dieu, en train de veiller sur ce qui échappe à notre attention. Combien il est réconfortant de savoir que notre Père céleste parfaitement sage et bienveillant nous tient – ainsi que toute sa création – dans sa main à la fois tendre et puissante !

Dieu répond à tous nos besoins.

par James Banks

© 2018 Ministères NPQ
« C’est par là que Dieu te tenait quand il t’a trempé dans le chocolat. »