Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

12 May 2019 4th Sunday of Easter Year C

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE
MMOTHER’S DAY

Junior
unior Shepherds for Christ’s Flock
o be a shepherd of God’s people demands purity of

T intention and of heart. It requires total dedication

to the point of being ready to lay down one’s life for
the good of the sheep, following in the footsteps of Jesus, the
Good Shepherd.
As members of God’s flock, we have the right to demand
all this of our shepherds, but we have also the duty to pray
for them, and to support them in all their worthy enterprises.
We have also the duty to promote and sustain new vocations
to priestly and religious life. We must pray that God’s flock
may never lack holy representatives of the Eternal Shepherd.
As we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, let this be the main
intention for which we offer this Eucharist.
Today is also “Mother’s Day.” With all our heart we pray
for all mothers throughout the world, especially for our own
mothers, and all Filipino mothers.

our sinfulness and ask his for- highest, and on earth peace
giveness. (Pause) to people of good will. We
P –Jesus, Eternal Shepherd, praise you, we bless you, we
Entrance Antiphon you laid down your life for adore you, we glorify you, we
(To be recited only when no Entrance the salvation of all man- give you thanks for your great
Hymn is sung.) kind. Lord, have mercy! glory, Lord God, heavenly
The merciful love of the All – Lord, have mercy! King, O God, almighty
Lord fills the earth; by the Father.
word of the Lord the heavens P –You appointed your Lord Jesus Christ, Only
were made, alleluia! apostles and their succes- Begotten Son, Lord God,
sors to take care of your Lamb of God, Son of the Fa-
Greeting flock through the centu-
ries. Christ, have mercy! ther, you take away the sins
P –May the grace and peace of the world, have mercy on
of Jesus, the “Good Shep- All –Christ, have mercy!
us; you take away the sins of
herd,” be with you all! P –You continue send- the world, receive our prayer;
All – And with your spirit! ing men and women to you are seated at the right
minister to your flock hand of the Father, have mer-
Penitential Act throughout the world.
P –Gathered together around cy on us. For you alone are
Lord, have mercy! the Holy One, you alone are
our Divine Good Shepherd, let All – Lord, have mercy!
us realize that every time we the Lord, you alone are the
commit sin, we behave like Most High, Jesus Christ, with
Gloria the Holy Spirit, in the glory of
the sheep that get lost. In all
humility, let us acknowledge All–Glory to God in the God the Father. Amen!
 Collect (Opening Prayer) ed the women of prominence washed their robes and made
P –Almighty ever-living who were worshipers and the them white in the blood of the
God, lead us to a share in leading men of the city, stirred Lamb. For this reason they
the joys of heaven, so that up a persecution against Paul stand before God’s throne and
and Barnabas, and expelled worship him day and night in
the humble flock may reach them from their territory. So his temple.
where the brave Shepherd has they shook the dust from their The one who sits on the
gone before. feet in protest against them throne will shelter them. They
He, who lives and reigns and went to Iconium. The dis- will not hunger or thirst any-
with you in the unity of the ciples were filled with joy and more, nor will the sun or any
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever the Holy Spirit. heat strike them. For the Lamb
and ever. who is in the center of the throne
All – Amen! The Word of the Lord! will shepherd them and lead
All – Thanks be to God! them to springs of life-giving
Responsorial Psalm Ps 100 water, and God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes.”
R –We are his people, the
sheep of his flock! The Word of the Lord!
1st Reading Acts 13:14.43-52 All – Thanks be to God!
Today’s episode is of fun- R. M. Velez
damental importance in the F Dm Gospel Acclamation Jn 10:14
history of evangelization, since
it marks the decision to start
        All – Alleluia! Alleluia!
“I am the good shepherd,”
preaching the Gospel to the We are his peo-ple, says the Lord.
pagans. The Church is meant “I know my sheep, and
Bb C F
    
for all nations and races. mine know me.”
R –A proclamation from the
 Alleluia! Alleluia!
Acts of the Apostles the sheep of his flock!
Gospel Jn 10:27-30
Paul and Barnabas con- Jesus is the eternal “Good
tinued on from Perga and * Sing joyfully to the Lord, Shepherd” who cares for his
reached Antioch in Pisidia. all you lands; serve the Lord sheep and guides them to ev-
On the sabbath, they entered with gladness. Come before erlasting life.
the synagogue and took their him with joyful song. R.
seats. Many Jews and wor- * Know that the Lord is God.
P –The Lord be with you!
shipers who were converts to All – And with your spirit!
He made us, his we are; his
Judaism followed Paul and people, the flock he tends. R. P –A proclamation from the
Barnabas, who spoke to them holy Gospel according to
and urged them to remain * The Lord is good; his kind-
ness endures forever, and his John
faithful to the grace of God. All – Glory to you, O Lord!
On the following sabbath, faithfulness, to all genera-
almost the whole city gathered tions. R. Jesus said: “My sheep hear
to hear the word of the Lord. my voice. I know them, and
When the Jews saw the 2nd Reading RV 7:9.14-17 they follow me.
crowds, they were filled with Today’s passage from the I give them eternal life, and
jealousy and, with violent Book of Revelation describes they shall never perish. No one
abuse, contradicted what Paul a heavenly liturgy participated can take them out of my hand.
said. Both Paul and Barnabas in by innumerable people from My Father, who has given
spoke out boldly and said, “It all nations and races. They them to me, is greater than all,
was necessary that the word of are the Elect who remained and no one can take them out
God be spoken to you first, but faithful to Christ in time of of the Father’s hand.
since you reject it and condemn persecution. The Father and I are one.”
yourselves as unworthy of eter- R –A proclamation from the The Gospel of the Lord!
nal life, we now turn to the Gen- Book of Revelation All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
tiles. For so the Lord has com- Christ!
manded us, ‘I have made you I, John, had a vision of a
a light to the Gentiles, that you great multitude, which no one Homily
may be an instrument of salva- could count, from every na-
tion to the ends of the earth.’ ” tion, race, people, and tongue. Profession of Faith
The Gentiles were delight- They stood before the throne (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)
ed when they heard this and and before the Lamb, wearing
glorified the word of the Lord. white robes and holding palm All –I believe in one God, the Fa-
All who were destined for eter- branches in their hands. ther almighty, maker of heaven
nal life came to believe, and the Then one of the Elders said and earth, of all things visible
word of the Lord continued to to me, “These are the ones and invisible.
spread through the whole re- who have survived the time I believe in one Lord Jesus
gion. The Jews, however, incit- of great distress; they have Christ, the Only Begotten Son
12 May 2019
of God, born of the Father be- sion to promote the good of All –We lift them up to the
fore all ages. God from God, the persons entrusted to them. Lord!
Light from Light, true God from Let us pray! R. P –Let us give thanks to the
true God, begotten, not made, C –For all mothers through- Lord our God!
consubstantial with the Father; out the world, and especially All –It is right and just!
through him all things were our own: May they be pre-
made. For us men and for our P –It is truly right and just,
served from all evil and enjoy our duty and our salvation,
salvation he came down from the reward for all the good
heaven, (bow)* and by the Holy at all times to acclaim you,
Spirit was incarnate of the Vir-
they have done to their chil- O Lord, but in this time
gin Mary, and became man.*
dren. Let us pray! R. above all to praise you yet
For our sake he was crucified C –For our young people more gloriously, when
under Pontius Pilate, he suf- whom God calls to serve the Christ our Passover has
been sacrificed.
fered death and was buried, and Church as priests or religious: He never ceases to offer
rose again on the third day in May they respond generously himself for us but defends us
accordance with the Scriptures. and persevere in their voca- and ever pleads our cause be-
He ascended into heaven and is tion. Let us pray! R. fore you: he is the sacrificial
seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again in C –For tomorrow’s national Victim who dies no more, the
glory to judge the living and the and local elections: May the Lamb, once slain, who lives
dead and his kingdom will have voters be protected from ha- for ever.
no end. rassment; and may all elec- Therefore, overcome
I believe in the Holy Spirit, tion officers have the cour- with paschal joy, every land,
the Lord, the giver of life, who age to resist intimidation and every people exults in your
proceeds from the Father and fraud. Let us pray! R. praise and even the heaven-
the Son, who with the Father C – Let us pray in silence for ly Powers, with the angelic
and the Son is adored and glori- our personal intentions. hosts, sing together the un-
fied, who has spoken through (Pause) Let us pray! R. ending hymn of your glory,
the prophets. as they acclaim:
I believe in one, holy, cath- P –Jesus, Eternal Shepherd, All – Holy, holy, holy Lord,
olic and apostolic Church. I keep guiding all those you God of hosts. Heaven and
confess one Baptism for the call to the religious life and to earth are full of your glory.
forgiveness of sins and I look positions of leadership in the Hosanna in the highest!
forward to the resurrection of Church. May their examples Blessed is he who comes in
the dead and the life of the world of authentic Christian life the name of the Lord. Hosan-
to come. Amen! lead us closer to you who live na in the highest!
and care for ever and ever.
Prayer of the Faithful All – Amen! Memorial Acclamation
P –Jesus, our Divine Shep- P –The mystery of faith!
herd, calls generous souls to All – We proclaim your Death,
be the visible instruments of O Lord, and profess your
his love for his flock. Let us Resurrection until you
commend to the Lord Jesus Preparation of the Gifts come again!
all those who represent him P –Pray, brethren . . .
among us and those called to All – May the Lord accept the
fulfill this role. Let us say: sacrifice at your hands, for the
All – Jesus, Good Shepherd, praise and glory of his name,
hear us! for our good and the good of All – Our Father . . .
all his holy Church. P –Deliver us, Lord . .
C –For the Universal
Church: May all her mem- All –For the kingdom, the
bers appreciate the work done Prayer over the Offerings power, and the glory are
by their pastors, and support P –O Lord, grant that we yours, now and for ever.
them with all their resources. may always find delight in
Let us pray! R. these paschal mysteries, so Sign of Peace
that the renewal constantly
C –For the Holy Father, the at work within us may be the Breaking of the Bread
bishops, and priests: May cause of our unending joy. All – Lamb of God . . .
they be, for all the faithful, Through Christ our Lord.
the clearest signs of God’s All – Amen! Communion
patience, concern, and love.
Let us pray! R. P –Behold the Lamb of God,
Preface of Easter III behold him who takes away the
C –For all parents, teachers, P –The Lord be with you! sins of the world. Blessed are
and civil authorities: May All –And with your spirit! those called to the Supper of
they be faithful to their mis- P –Lift up your hearts! the Lamb.
4th Sunday of Easter (C)
All – Lord, I am not worthy ever and ever. you heirs to an eternal in-
that you should enter under my All – Amen! heritance.
roof, but only say the word and All – Amen!
my soul shall be healed.
P –May you, who have al-
Communion Antiphon ready risen with Christ
(To be recited only when no in Baptism through faith,
Communion Hymn is sung.)
P –The Lord be with you. be united with him in the
All – And with your spirit! homeland of heaven.
The Good Shepherd has
risen, who laid down his life P –May God, who by the All –Amen!
for his sheep and willingly died Resurrection of His Only
Begotten Son conferred P –And may the blessing of
for his flock, alleluia!
on you the gifts of re- almighty God: the Fa-
demption and adoption, ther, and the Son, and the
Prayer after Communion Holy Spirit, come down
P –Look upon your flock, grant you gladness and
peace! on you and remain with
kind Shepherd, and be All – Amen! you for ever.
pleased to settle in eternal All – Amen!
pastures the sheep you have P –May Christ, by whose re-
redeemed by the precious deeming work you have P –Go in peace, glorifying
Blood of your Son. received the gift of for- the Lord by your life!
Who lives and reigns for giveness and grace, make All – Thanks be to God!

DEDICATED ASSISTANTS OF THE DIVINE SHEPHERD

by Jess P. Balon

B eing mostly a shepherding people, Israel en-

joyed thinking of the Lord as its divine “Shep-
herd.” The pious Jews expressed their trust in God’s
“good shepherd” which he himself had given. (See
Jn 10:11.)
After his resurrection Jesus did not forget his
provident care and protection by singing: “little flock” of frightened disciples. Knowing that
“The Lord is my shepherd he would not be visibly present among them any
There is nothing I shall want . . . longer, he entrusted them all to the care of Peter,
I fear no evil!” (Ps 23:1.4) the chief “vice shepherd” (see Jn 21:15-17), and
And the Lord did take care of His “flock” in all of all the other apostles (see Mt 28:19-20), and
circumstances. Usually, however, He showed His their successors. They and the presbyters, as
concern for His people through “human shepherds”: Paul made it clear when talking to the presbyters
the political and religious leaders. They were ex- of the Church of Ephesus, were to watch over the
pected to be the symbols and instruments of the whole flock which the Holy Spirit had entrusted to
fatherly care which the Divine Shepherd showed their care. That meant they were to shepherd “the
for His people at all times. Church of God which Christ has acquired at the
Often, however, the leaders had turned into price of his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
“bad shepherds” who pastured themselves, while These human shepherds are the ones who, all
treating the sheep harshly. (See Ez 34:3-6.) This through the centuries, and in all communities, have
is why, at one point, He threatened to dismiss the been given the task of making visible the caring
bad shepherds, and promised to take care of His presence of the eternal Shepherd, through their
own flock personally. (See Ez 34:11-16.) dedication, patience, concern, and selflessness.
Such a promise was fulfilled eminently in These are the people called to be “sacraments of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God-made-man. In his Christ’s shepherding love.”
short earthly existence, through his teaching, his In every age and place we need many of these
miracles, and his loving kindness, Jesus showed lamb-shepherds. But especially we need that they
in innumerable instances that he was, indeed, the be holy, i.e.: that they resemble him, the Holy Lamb
good shepherd who really cared for his “flock.” and Shepherd, as far as their human frailty allows.
Eventually, he went to the extent of laying down his For this intention we are invited to pray today in a
life for his sheep, thus living up to the definition of special manner.

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