Catholic Mass Reading: Monday, 4 May 2020 – Jesus The Good Shepherd

Monday May 4, 2020
Weekday of Easter (4)
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: Joyful Mystery

Entrance Antiphon  Rom 6:9
Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more; death will no longer have dominion over him, alleluia.

Collect
O God, perfect light of the blessed, by whose gift we celebrate the paschal mysteries on earth, bring us, we pray, to rejoice in the full measure of your grace for ages unending. Through our Lord…

FIRST READING
“Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 11 : 1-18)

In those days: The apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticised him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” But Peter began and explained to them in order: “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me. Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ “But I said, ‘No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ “This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM    Psalm 42:2-3; 43 :3.4 (R. see 42:3ab)
R. My soul is thirsting for you, the living God.
Or:  Alleluia.

Like the deer that yearns for running streams,
so my soul is yearning for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for God, the living God;
when can I enter and appear before the face of God? R.

O send forth your light and your truth;
they will guide me on.
They will bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell. R.

R/. My soul is thirsting for you, the living God.
Or:  Alleluia.

And I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and gladness.
To you will I give thanks on the harp,
O God, my God. R.

ALLELUIA  John 10: l4
Alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own, and my own know me. Alleluia.

GOSPEL 
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 10: 1- 10)

At that time: Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
The symbolism of the shepherd had great significance in the ancient East and in the Old Testament. But in today’s Gospel reading, the image of shepherd has new characteristics; Jesus is not a shepherd-king or a monarch; he is the shepherd who gives his life for his sheep, who knows his sheep closely and keeps them free from danger. It was the custom in Palestine to gather sheep belonging to different shepherds into one place for the night. In the morning they were called out, and each flock recognized the voice of its shepherd and followed him. Those who belong to Jesus recognize his voice, his teaching, and follow him faithfully, and do not follow other shepherds who call them and try to lead them astray. Jesus is also the door of the sheepfold, protection for the sheep and their way to freedom.

Personal Devotional: Day 4 of May Devotion

Our Mother Mary was chosen by God for the purpose of being the Mother of His only begotten Son and she accepted this role and bore a lasting fruit for God.

Our responsibility in this life is to do God’s will and to bear fruits of love for Him. God will make demands of us from time to time in this life and when we submit our will and accept His own will we will be able to find the joy and inner peace that our Mother Mary found when she let God’s will be done in her life. Our Mother Mary is a sure help for you  when you desire to do God’s will.

Meditation: John 15:18-21

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for choosing me to be your child, help me to say yes to you always as your Mother did and may the will of God for my life come to perfect fulfilment. Through the intercession of our blessed Mother Mary, May Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 

Blessings for the New  Week

Heavenly Father, I woke up this morning with joy in my heart for the many blessings you have bestowed on me. Thank you for all you have done and may Everything in me give glory to your name.
Let your Holy Spirit be my guide and help as this new day begins, and may I do good to all who come around me with the good you have given me.

Keep me safe from harm. Bless my family, friends, well wishers and all those who are seriously in need of your help and may this day and this new week be favourable to us. Plant me like a tree by the streams of water, may I yield abundant of fruits and may the works of my hand prosper (Psalm 1). Open my heart so that I will hear your word and obey your commandments.

Good morning dearest friend.  May your hard work in this new week bring you multiple blessings and favours. Amen. May Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: Acts 16:11-15/Psalm 149/John 15:26-16:4

M A Y   D E V O T I O N
Program of Daily Events for May Devotion (Personal / Group)

1. Introduction: Sign of the Cross +  / (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament optional)
 

2. Act of contrition:
O my God because you’re so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you and by the help of your grace I will not sin again.
 

3. Act of Consecration to the Immaculate heart of Mary:
O most pure heart of Mary, full of goodness, show your love towards us. Let the flame of your heart, O Mary, descend on all people. We love you immensely. Impress on our hearts true love so that we may long for you. O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we sin. You know that all we sin. Grant that through your most pure and motherly heart, we may be healed from every spiritual sickness. Grant that we may always experience the goodness of your motherly heart, and that through the flame of your heart we may be converted. Amen.

4. Rosary Recitation and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Begin with the invocation of the Holy Spirit: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the heart……….

5. Art of Reparation to the Immaculate heart of Mary:
O Most Holy Virgin, and Our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promising a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart. We therefore kneel before you to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause you, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus Christ and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth and enjoy him forever in Heaven.

6. Brief talk on Blessed Virgin Mary

7. Gift of candle light and offering of petition. (Lighting of candles and submission of petition).

8. Memorare:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine     intercession was left unaided Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.  Amen.

9. Prayers for the intention of Our Holy Father (One Our Father, One Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father).

10. Benediction

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