4th Sunday of Easter

Our readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter are:

1. Acts 13: 14, 43-52
2. Psalms 100: 1-2, 3, 5
3. Revelation 7: 9, 14b-15
4. John 10: 27-30

• The chosen
• Being part of the chosen fills us with a sense of destiny, of purpose, of meaning.
• Are you chosen?
• To what purpose?
• Is there anyone who is not chosen?

• Same song, second pasture
• The life of a sheep sounds restful, peaceful, serene.
• What does a peaceful existence offer you.  What would you do if live were peaceful?
• What would that sort of peace cost you?
• Why do you think that you don't have that peace yet?

• I will survive
• In October 1978 Gloria Gaynor hit the charts with a roundly defiant ode to feminine resourcefulness and toughness called I will Survive.  The lyrics describe a woman finding strength in the face of a devastating breakup, and a new found freedom and independence.  All of us, men and women alike, can find some inspiration for the hard work involved in true freedom.
• What are some things that you have had to free yourself of in life?
• What caused you to go through that in the first place?
• Did you know how hard it would be when you started?
• If you had it to do all over again, would you?
• Where was God in that struggle?

• I am known, and I can live with that
• One of the beauties of a long marriage is that the members of that union get to know each other so well, and stay together anyway.  Each knows the other's weaknesses, foibles, follies and yet, if they are both diligent and lucky, their love just grows deeper.
• Imagine yourself at dinner with Jesus.  It's early evening, you're on the patio together, there's a light breeze coming in off of the water, bringing with it the sounds of birds and the scent of flowering jasmine.  The two of you have all of the time in the world at this moment.  You look into Jesus' eyes and you say "you know everything about me, and yet you love me.  Why is that?"  In reply, He reaches out to you and clasps your hand.
• What do you think He would say?
• Would that answer be different today than it was five years ago?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What am I doing today to fulfill my destiny in Christ?
2. How can I grow in my trust for God?
3. What in my life holds me back from walking closer to Jesus?
4. How is Jesus' love of me changing me?

The Great Throng

There are no small gatherings in Revelation, no intimate settings.
Everyone seems to show up for everything in heaven.
It sort of makes you wonder where introverts go when they die.

For my part, I need time to process, to savor, to ponder.
Otherwise I feel rushed, exhausted, pushed by life.
I wonder how long a time out takes in Eternity.

Fr. likes to remind us of where we are in the Liturgical calendar.
Inspiring a sense of urgency of a different sort.
Reminding us of the passage of time on a different plane.

It makes me feel as though I'm not getting everything done.
That Pentecost will come, I won't be ready, some ship will sail,
And I'll be left on the shore because I wasn't paying attention.

I think I'm going to start a new observance for the Easter season.
Giving up something for Easter, sort of like Lent.
This time around, it's going to be giving up being rushed.

Taking time each day to find God at my center.
And find my center in God.
And remind myself why I'm here.

Shalom!