Celebración de la palabra

Friday May 29

Friday of 7th Week of Easter

SHEPHERDS IN THE CHURCH

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 a 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 centers 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 to 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.

Reading 1: ACTS 25:13B-21

King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea
on a visit to Festus.
Since they spent several days there,
Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying,
"There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
So when they came together here, I made no delay;
the next day I took my seat on the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought in.
His accusers stood around him,
but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died
but who Paul claimed was alive.
Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy,
I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem
and there stand trial on these charges.
And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody
for the Emperor's decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."

Responsorial Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20AB

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: JN 14:26

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: JN 21:15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
"Do you love me?" and he said to him,
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to 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."
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."

Commentary

The lives of both Paul and Peter now move toward their respective conclusions. Paul, as a Roman citizen, wants his case to be heard by Roman authorities and not by the Jews, who wanted to confront him on religious grounds. Peter, after his threefold profession of love, is told that his death will take place at the hands of oppressors. Then he is simply told by Jesus, “Follow me.” In death as in life, the lot of the disciple is configured to that of the Master.
The manner in which Peter is singled out for special responsibility in the church is different in John. In Matthew, authority is conferred through the image of the keys and the power to bind and loose. Here the risen Lord addresses Peter to ascertain whether the apostle who three times denied him is now prepared to assume pastoral responsibility. He is first questioned as to whether or not his love surpasses that of the other disciples. Peter responds with an unqualified affirmation.
True love, as true sorrow for sin, finds expression in service to others. The desire to make amends moves away from the selfishness of the offense to the generosity of genuine concern. Have we not seen a parallel instance in which the sinful woman of the Gospel expresses her repentance in anointing the feet of Jesus? Peter, as a leader among the Twelve, distinguishes himself in his willingness to spend himself in the pastoral care of the flock. “Feed my sheep.”
Our gratitude for God’s boundless forgiveness expresses itself in our desire to serve. The scriptural mandate to love will never fail to be present in the church. Let the world say about us what nonbelievers said about our ancestors in faith (according to Tertullian): “Behold these Christians, how they love one another!”

Points to Ponder

Paul’s appeal for Roman justice
Peter’s failure converted into love
Love in community: the unmistakable sign of God’s presence

Intercessions

– Lord, we pray to 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 concerns.
May the building up of the 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 them all in the community
responsible for making the Church
the sign of Jesus’ presence among people,
that all may recognize him
as our Lord, now and for ever.

Blessing

“Do you love me? Do you let me lead you?” This is a question Jesus asks us, weak and fickle people. And may our answer be in words and deeds a wholehearted “yes.” May Almighty God confirm you in your love and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.