Tag: Deacon

Posted on

Sixth Sunday of Easter

picture of a person's hands forming a heart with the sun in the middle

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneIn | Google Podcast

Mass Readings

Reading 1: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Responsorial: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Reading 2: 1 John 4:7-10
Gospel: John 15:9-17

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050921.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

My brothers and sisters, God is love!

Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we’re going to break open the Word!

There are so many wonderful things happening in the readings this weekend! The two overarching themes are that the Gentiles are included in the church and that God is love.

Very briefly, the first reading from Acts is amazing. It’s a reminder to us that Gentile membership in the church was not a given. It was something the early church resolved at the Council of Jerusalem described in Acts 15. But here’s the cool part. Before Peter finished speaking in Acts 10, the Holy Spirit descended on Cornelius and all the Gentiles gathered. The disciples could tell that the Holy Spirit had descended because they could hear the Gentiles speaking in tongues. And they were astounded! So, Peter ordered everyone to be baptized (Acts 10:44-48).

That’s such an interesting reading. I highly encourage you to go back and read that entire story, Acts 10:1-49.

Our second reading and the Gospel focus on love. John reminds us what we find in John 3:16, that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus into the world (1 John 4:9). And while Jesus was here, he taught us about love. The Law is meaningless if it isn’t rooted in love. So, Jesus gave us the Great Commandment. It’s so important that he wanted to make sure we’d understand it, so he said it in two ways. Jesus says you shall love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28). In John’s Gospel account, Jesus says, “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you (John 15:12).

Now, it’s easy, I think, to look to our family and our friends and say to ourselves, “Yes, I love them.” That’s the easy part. But check this out. The Gospel tells me that I need to love the yahoo who cut me off in traffic! And what am I supposed to with criminals or with people who vote the wrong way? That’s right! I need to love them. Now between you and me, that’s a much more difficult pill to swallow!

You see, Jesus tells us that if we are going to be his disciples, then we need to keep his commandments (John 15:12, 17), and that means we have to love everyone. That’s not a cop-out! Love does not mean an absence of accountability. So, we can still hold people to account for what they’ve done wrong if they break the law for example. But love tells us how we should respond to them.

If all people are created in the image and likeness of God, and if I am supposed to love everyone, then how can I go to mass and say “I love you, Jesus,” but throw verbal rocks on social media at people who disagree with me?

These last couple of years or so have been a painful lesson about the urgency to preach the words of St. Paul that we hear in Mass: the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). In so many parts of the world, what we see happening in politics and every nation’s response to Covid-19 and everyone’s response to their nation’s response to Covid-19 are excellent examples of how difficult it is to love someone who thinks differently than we do.

And I’m sure each of us can find personal examples where we find it difficult to love someone. But the Church teaches us that Jesus’ command, “Love one another as I love you” (John 15:12), is foundational to the entire Christian life. You can find that described in detail in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1827.

Love says we can disagree with each other. Absolutely we can! But love says I must treat you as a beloved creation in the image and likeness of God. Love says I must treat you with respect. I suggest to you this is easier said than done. Now, the root of the word “disciple” is the Latin word “discere” which means “to learn.” So, being a disciple means I need to constantly be learning. And that’s totally true with love.

Love is a virtue. We call it a theological virtue because God infuses us with love. As I’ve pointed out, it’s not easy to practice the virtue of love. But we can grow in and develop the virtue of love. Remember, a virtue is an intentional good habit. So, we can work at developing virtue or good habits in our lives.

We need to work at it because Jesus tells us that if we follow his commands then we will remain in Jesus’ love (John 15:10). But growing in love isn’t easy. It’s a process and we’re going to discuss one method in our homework in just a minute.

How will I know that it’s working? How can I tell that I’m growing in virtue and overcoming bad habits or vices? Jesus says that we are supposed to go and bear fruit (John 15:16). That’s right, love is not only a virtue. Love is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit. That means that even if we can’t notice it, those around us – especially our family and friends – might be able to see the fruits of our spiritual work.

How do we do this? That leads us to Homework!

Nourished by the Word Incarnate and the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two activities.

First, bring your desire to grow in the virtue of love to God in prayer. Ask God to help you grow in love. You can do this with any virtue or with any vice you want to overcome. Here’s a pro tip. Write it down. No one needs to read it except you but write down your goal. It’s like that old adage, what gets scheduled gets done or if it’s not documented it didn’t happen. So, write down your goal and any thoughts, images, ideas, or feelings that come to you during prayer.

Second, ask yourself what things work against the virtue you want to develop. For example, if you want to grow in love, then what makes you grumpy, irritable, and impatient? A lack of sleep? Too much coffee? Consuming too much news or social media? Once you’ve identified something, resolve with the help of God to overcome it with concrete steps. For example, in addition to writing down your goal, write down actionable steps to overcome the obstacles. So, if you want to grow in love, you might write down that you’re setting a goal to get more sleep, or cut back on coffee, or reduce the amount of time you spend listening to the news or on social media.

You can even record your progress over time. These notes could be helpful in your discernment and in your conversation with your pastor or a spiritual director.

It’s not enough to say “Amen, alleluia!” when we hear Jesus’ words to love one another as he loves us. As disciples, we must take specific steps to grow in virtue and overcome vice. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: Wiki Loves Love – Meta. By Ed Gregory. JPG. CC0 Creative Commons.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Anderson, Kelly and Daniel Keating. James, First, Second, and Third John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
2. Kurz, William S. SJ. Acts of the Apostles. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013. Kindle.
3. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Gentiles in God’s plan: 60, 674, 755, 781
2. Faith: 453-54
3. God is love: 214, 218-21, 231, 257, 733, 2331, 2577
4. God loving us by sending his Son: 457-58, 604, 620
5. Call to love one another: 459, 1823-25
6. Love of God and neighbor fulfills the Commandments: 1789, 1822-29, 2067, 2069
7. Charity: 1822-29
8. Friendship with Christ: 2347, 2709
9. Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper: 2746-51

Sixth Sunday of Easter https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050921.cfm
Lectionary: 56

Reading 1
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him
and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
Peter, however, raised him up, saying,
“Get up. I myself am also a human being.”

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.”

While Peter was still speaking these things,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.
The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter
were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit
should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,
for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God.
Then Peter responded,
“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people,
who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?”
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Responsorial
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 John 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Alleluia
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”

Posted on

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Grapes on a vine

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneIn | Google Podcast

Mass Readings

Reading 1: Acts 9:26-31
Responsorial: Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32
Reading 2: 1 John 3:18-24
Gospel: John 15:1-8

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050221.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we’re going to break open the Word!

This weekend’s readings begin with Paul in the Acts of the Apostles. The events we will hear proclaimed came after Paul’s conversion experience.

Before we move on, I just want to point something out. Let’s call this a footnote to our first reading. Why did Paul come to Jerusalem? Luke will set out some facts in Acts, and Paul will give us a slightly different rationale in his letters, but I think it’s safe to draw at least one conclusion. Paul went to Jerusalem because he understood that in the ministry, he is not a lone ranger. At some level, Paul understands that he is part of the church, and that means, at minimum, that he must consult with the church if not submit to its authority.

I think that’s a beautiful idea because it reminds us that church is a community of believers, and like any community, we need to get along or at least figure out how to get along. It’s also a reminder that there is a structure in the church. Jesus said to Peter that he is the rock on whom he will build his church. He didn’t say to Paul he was going to rebuild the church on him. And he doesn’t say to us, “Rudy” or insert your name, “I’m rebuilding my church on you.” Our church has a structure and a leadership, and it’s our job as disciples to support our bishops and pastors as we work together to build up the Kingdom of God.

Ok, footnote over – moving on!

Look at what happened to Paul through his conversion experience. So much happened to the poor guy; you have to wonder why. Perhaps the Gospel gives us a clue. Maybe everything Paul went through throughout his conversion and the following three years was a sort of pruning. God pruned Paul so that he could bear more fruit!

Wouldn’t you agree that Paul’s life is an example of someone who kept the commandments and remained in God and God in him?

My brothers and sisters, by our baptism, we are part of the vine. So, we have the same opportunity to be pruned by God so that we too can bear much fruit for the Kingdom! That’s one way to think about discipleship. But not all discipleship is fruitful. So, we are warned that if we don’t bear fruit, bad things will happen!

So, how can we cooperate with God, or in what ways can we help God with our own pruning so that we bear fruit? I’m so glad you asked!

We’ve talked a lot about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, virtues, fruits of the Holy Spirit, and even sin. We’ve learned that we can evaluate where we stand concerning these through self-examination, speaking with someone close to us like our spouses or close friends, or meeting with a spiritual director. But, we can be much more deliberate about the process.

For example, let’s say we want to grow in prudence. Well, of course, we can look up what that means and search the internet for church teachings or writings from the saints or spiritual masters about prudence. We might learn that some virtues related to prudence include circumspection, docility, and foresight. But learning alone doesn’t guarantee that we will grow in prudence. So, we need to bring prudence to prayer.

One way to do that is through the daily examen. To do the daily examen doesn’t require much time at all – perhaps 5-7 minutes – indeed 10 minutes max. Why not bring prudence or one of its related virtues to the daily examen? You could prayerfully reflect on it over several days, a week, or longer. It’s up to you. You could do the same thing with a bad habit or with something that’s bothering you. It might be helpful to keep some notes as you try to grow in prudence or overcome a bad habit.

This is one example of what it means to remain in Christ. We don’t try to do it by ourselves. We can turn to God in prayer and invite pruning in concrete ways – like overcoming a specific bad habit or growing in a particular virtue. If we are mindful about growing in our spiritual life, then our lives will bear much fruit.

Homework! Nourished by the fruit of the vine through the Word and Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following questions.
First, what are one or two virtues I want to grow in or one or two bad habits I want to overcome?
Second, turn to God in prayer and ask for specific help to increase in that virtue or overcome that particular bad habit.

I think doing our homework can enrich our discipleship. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: Malbec Grapes. Ian L. 30 August 2004. JPG. Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic. Description: Malbec grapes. Taken at the Robert Mondavi Winery in Rutherford, California (in the Napa Valley), California.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Anderson, Kelly and Daniel Keating. James, First, Second, and Third John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
2. Kurz, William S. SJ. Acts of the Apostles. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013. Kindle.
3. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Believing in Jesus Christ: 151
2. God’s mercy greater than our hearts: 208, 1781, 2845
3. Call to love one another: 459, 1823-25
4. The gift of the Spirit: 733-36
5. Church as vine: 736, 755, 787, 1108, 1988, 2074
6. Persecution: 769, 1808, 1816
7. Charity: 953, 1822-29
8. Eternal separation from God: 1033
9. Being conformed to Christ: 1694
10. Keeping the commandments: 2052-55, 2072
11. “Apart from me you can do nothing”: 2074
12. Charitable works of mercy: 2447-48
13. Bearing witness to Christ: 2471-74
14. Praying in Jesus’ name: 2614
15. Praying with confidence for our needs: 2631
16. Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper: 2746-51

Fifth Sunday of Easter https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050221.cfm
Lectionary: 53

Reading 1
Acts 9:26-31
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples,
but they were all afraid of him,
not believing that he was a disciple.
Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles,
and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord,
and that he had spoken to him,
and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem,
and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.
He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,
but they tried to kill him.
And when the brothers learned of this,
they took him down to Caesarea
and sent him on his way to Tarsus.

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.
It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.

Responsorial
Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32
R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or: R. Alleluia.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the LORD.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts live forever!”
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or: R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or: R. Alleluia.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or: R. Alleluia.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or: R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 John 3:18-24
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.

Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.

Alleluia
John 15:4a, 5b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord.
Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Posted on

Good Shepherd Sunday

picture of the child Jesus as a shepherd boy with a lamb

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneIn | Google Podcast

Fourth Sunday of Easter Mass Readings

Reading 1: Acts 4:8-12
Responsorial: Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
Reading 2: 1 John 3:1-2
Gospel: John 10:11-18

https://bible.usccb.org/Bible/readings/042521.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Welcome! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and I’m so glad you’re here! Together, let’s break open the Word! This weekend marks the Fourth Sunday of Easter when we celebrate Jesus who is the Good Shepherd. Why? Because in today’s Gospel, he says, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). On this Sunday, the Church asks us to pray for vocations. We pray for all vocations of course! But today we are asked to focus our attention for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life. And by consecrated religious life I mean all those men and women who join religious orders to serve as priests, brothers and sisters, monks and nuns. So, please keep vocations and all young people discerning God’s call for their lives on your mind as we celebrate mass this weekend and in your prayers this week.

Where do future priests and consecrated religious – and for that matter, future bishops and deacons – come from? Vocations come from families. So, as we contemplate Jesus the Good Shepherd, we must begin with ourselves. All of us are part of families – even if we don’t have children – we have nieces and nephews and maybe grandchildren and friends whose children are practically family. So, we begin our contemplation on ourselves.

To begin that exercise, we turn our attention to the second reading today which comes to us from the First Letter of John. What do we hear proclaimed from John today? John says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now” (1 John 3:2).

Where do we find language like that in Scripture?

Earlier this year, we heard the baptism of Jesus proclaimed from the gospel account according to Mark. God says, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Jesus’ ministry begins when he heard God’s reassurance that he is God’s beloved.

Now we hear John tell us that since we are children of God, we – each and every one of us – is a beloved of God. We are loved so dearly that each of us who are baptized in Christ Jesus is called a child of God! Just meditate on that for a while! Try to absorb that!

Living our lives as someone so deeply loved by God – that by itself is enough to change how we face each and every day! But wait! There’s more!

In the Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:14). So, now Jesus says that he is our shepherd and that we, the beloved of God, are his flock. He knows us and we know him just like he knows the Father and the Father knows him.

This isn’t just a casual arrangement. No! Jesus means that he understands us – everything about us. And Jesus says that’s how we are supposed to know him. Now let’s think about that for a second.

I’m sure you’ve all heard some variation of this story before, but it’s worth repeating today. There was a dinner party – pre-pandemic of course – there was a dinner party and one of the guests was a famous actor. Everyone asked the actor if he would recite some bit of script for them. He said he would like to recite Psalm 23, but only if another invited a guest, a priest, recites it after him. Everyone starts clapping and saying “yes, yes, yes!” And the kind priest agreed.

So, the actor stood up and began, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” (Psalm 23:1). And he goes on and on and when he’s finished, the whole crowd stands up clapping and cheering! And then the actor says, “Thank you, thank you! But, let’s all quiet down please. Everyone take your seats. Father, if you please.”

And the kindly old priest stood up and said, “The-Lord-is-my-shepherd—there-is-nothing-I-shall-want.” When he finished reciting the entire psalm, everyone was quiet. Some of the guests wiped tears from their eyes. The actor stood up again and said, “you know what the difference is between the two of us, don’t you? I know the psalm, but Father knows the shepherd.”

My brothers and sisters, you and I are invited to know Jesus the Good Shepherd. I suggest that will take a little more time than whatever time you spend in mass. How can we encourage people young or old who are discerning God’s plan for their lives to take up the mantle of the Good Shepherd if we don’t know the Shepherd?

So, on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we gather to worship and praise Jesus the Good Shepherd, but we also recommit ourselves to deepening our knowledge of Jesus through prayer, study, reading the lives of the saints, and self-examination. Do we see fruits from knowing Jesus? Are we growing in virtue and controlling our vices?

Jesus says, “they will hear my voice” (John 10:16). Isn’t that wonderful? No matter my sin, no matter how badly I’ve been behaving of late, because I am beloved, Jesus will still call my name! There is mercy in his voice! That doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. But the Shepherd says to me, “get up off the floor! This pity party is over! There’s work to be done!”

What great hope we all can find in Jesus, the Good Shepherd! It is out of our hope, our love, our knowing God that enables us to encourage people in our own families to dedicate their lives to the service of the church and the whole world as priests and consecrated religious.

Homework! Nourished by the Good Shepherd through the Word and Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following questions.
First, let’s continue our assignment from last week: what steps am I taking to deepen my relationship with Jesus?
Second, how can I encourage vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life from within my family, my circle of friends and my parish?

I think doing our homework can help us live out our discipleship. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: El Buen Pastor. Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-82), ca. 1660; Museo del Prado, Madrid. (Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons) JPG.

Notes: I am indebted to Fr. Larry Richards and the Reason For Our Hope Foundation for the inspiration for this homily https://thereasonforourhope.org/.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Anderson, Kelly and Daniel Keating. James, First, Second, and Third John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
2. Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018. Kindle.
3. Kurz, William S. SJ. Acts of the Apostles. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. We are God’s children now: 1, 104, 239, 1692, 1709, 2009, 2736
2. Salvation in Jesus alone: 161, 432
3. Seeing God in the beatific vision: 163, 1023, 2519
4. Pope and bishops as shepherds: 553, 857, 861, 881, 896, 1558, 1561, 1568, 1574
5. Jesus’ self-offering: 606-9
6. Christ the Shepherd and the Gate: 754, 764, 2665
7. Christ the cornerstone: 756
8. Catholicity: 831
9. The church’s mission: 849-56
10. Priests as shepherds: 874, 1120, 1465, 1536, 1548-51, 1564, 2179, 2686
11. Revelation that we are children of God: 1692

Fourth Sunday of Easter https://bible.usccb.org/Bible/readings/042521.cfm
Lectionary: 50

Reading 1
Acts 4:8-12
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said:
“Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

Responsorial
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for 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. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or R. Alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his kindness endures forever.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 Jn 3:1-2
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.

Alleluia
John 10:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 10:11-18
Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”