Greeting (see Second Reading)

By the wounds of Jesus we have been healed.
We had gone astray like sheep,
but now we have come back
to the shepherd and guardian of our souls.
May Jesus our Good Shepherd
be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

A. Hear the Shepherd's Voice

It is God our Father himself who has taken the initiative to love us. His love keeps calling each of us personally, and we hear his voice particularly
through Jesus, our Good Shepherd, calling us. Do we hear his voice in our prayer, in the words he speaks to us in the Scriptures, or when he speaks to us from heart to heart in the eucharistic celebration? And let us not forget too that Jesus speaks to us in the Church that appeals to us in the people who cry out their needs and love to us.

B. He Calls Us By Name

It is great to know that someone knows you by your first name, for that is already a sign of love. If this person is someone you trust, you can put yourself in his or her hands and feel very safe. Jesus presents himself today as a friend who knows and calls us to walk with him the road of life. He sticks to us through thick and thin; he shows us the way to follow. Under his leadership we can truly be a people, God's people. With Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we now celebrate this eucharist and learn from him to care for one another.

Penitential Act

At times we have turned a deaf ear
to the Lord calling us.
We ask God now to forgive us.
(PAUSE)
Good Shepherd, let us hear your voice
in the challenging words you speak to us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Good Shepherd, let your voice provoke us
to continue your work in the Church
and to make you known to all people:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Good Shepherd, make us recognize your voice
crying out to us in those in need and who suffer:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins.
Attune us to your voice calling us
and make us follow you all the way
to everlasting life . R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to God
that we may always listen to the voice
of Jesus, our Good Shepherd
(PAUSE)
Lord our God, almighty and loving Father,
you have given us, your people,
a reliable and caring guide
to lead us to you and to one another,
your Son and our Good Shepherd Jesus Christ.
Stir our hearts with the words of the gospel
as the message of good news for us today.
and help us to hear God's voice also
in the silence of our faith,
in the groaning of our miseries,
and in the words of encouragement and joy
of the shepherds of your Church
and of everyone who has a good word for us.
For there too speaks and calls
our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: Called to Follow Christ
      On Pentecost, Peter calls the Jews to follow Jesus Christ whom they have crucified. Through baptism they will be forgiven, will belong to him and to his community and be guided by his Holy Spirit.

First Reading: Acts 2:14.36-41

On Pentecost day, Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them, "Fellow Jews and all foreigners now staying in Jerusalem, listen to what I have to say.

"Let Israel then know for sure that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified."

When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?"

Peter answered: "Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar whom our God may call."

With many other words Peter gave the message and appealed to them saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who accepted his word were baptized; some three thousand persons were added to their number that day.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-3,3-4,5,6

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that gives me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading Introduction: Saved by Our Shepherd
       In a world full of injustice and suffering, we feel like straying sheep. Jesus has shared our lot. By giving himself totally for us he became our shepherd.

Second Reading: 1 Pt 2:20b-25

What merit would there be in taking a beating when you have done wrong? But if you endure punishment when you have done well, that is a grace before God.

This is your calling: remember Christ who suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you may follow in his way. He did no wrong and there was no deceit in his mouth. He did not return insult for insult and, when suffering, he did not curse but put himself in the hands of God who judges justly. He went to the cross burdened with our sins so that we might die to sin and live an upright life. For by his wounds you have been healed. You were like stray sheep, but you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Gospel Introduction: Called to Follow Our Shepherd
      Jesus is the good shepherd who does not abuse his power but knows us personally and is our gate to lasting happiness and joy.

Gospel Reading: Jn 10:1-10

Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the shepherd of the sheep enters by the gate. The keeper opens the gate to him and the sheep hear his voice; he calls each of his 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, rather they will run away from him because they don't recognize a stranger's voice."

Jesus used this comparison, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, I am the gate of the sheep. All who came were thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not hear them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved; he will go in and out freely and find food.

"The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness."

Commentary

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is called "Good Shepherd Sunday." The Gospel recalls the reassuring words of Jesus that he will watch over His flock and protect it from the dangers of the enemy, the one who seeks only to scatter, steal and slaughter the sheep.
Jesus is the gateway to new and abundant life. When we search for security outside of him we find only chaos. But with the Lord Jesus we find salvation. We find new life here on earth, and we enter upon the pathway that leads to the restful waters and verdant pastures of heaven.

General Intercessions

Let us pray with the fullest trust to Jesus, our Good Shepherd, for he takes care of the needs of all who follow him. Let us say: R/ Lord, guide us in right paths.

- For the shepherds of the Church, that they may take Christ for their model
and courageously lead the People of God to the kingdom of justice and love, let us pray : R/ Lord, guide us in right paths.

- For all Christians everywhere, that they may become one holy people of God; for those who have lost their faith, that our Christian living may be so credible as to inspire them to return to Christ, let us pray: R/ Lord, guide us in right paths.

- For those in tasks of Christian formation, that they themselves may know where they are going and lead those entrusted to them on roads of life and commitment to God and to their brothers and sisters, let us pray: R/ Lord, guide us in right paths.

- For the leaders of nations, that they may promote the freedom and dignity of people, and place justice and the quality of life above personal gain and power, let us pray: R/ Lord, guide us in right paths.

- For our youth and young adults, that they may have the courage to make themselves totally free for the work of the Lord if he calls them to special tasks in the Church, let us pray: R/ Lord, guide us in right paths.

Lord Jesus Christ, we entrust all these cares to you. And do not forget us, for we rely on you. our shepherd and our Lord. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, our Father,
your Son and Good Shepherd Jesus Christ
spreads for us the table of the eucharist;
he calls each of us by name
to share his meal with him.
We can only bring bread and wine before you.
He will give himself to us.
Let him lead us into your own house,
and in the meantime help us
to nourish one another on our journey
with kindness, hope and justice,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

We have now reached the core of the Mass, the eucharistic prayer. We recall in it how Jesus, our Good Shepherd laid down his life for us to give us life to the full. Let us thank the Father with one heart and one voice.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

Led by Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd,
we pray to our Father in heaven
to give us food that nourishes our bodies
and the bread of life of the eucharist : R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and give us always the peace and joy
of your presence among us.
Keep us free from doubt and discouragement
and let your Son walk by our side
that, together with him,
we may build up among us
his new world of friendship and hope,
and so prepare the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . R/ For the kingdom...

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
I leave you peace, my peace I give you.
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church
and hear your people's plea for peace and unity
in the Church and in the world.
Be the Good Shepherd of all,
that there may be only one flock and one shepherd,
now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
He calls each of us by name
and invites us to share his table,
that he may give us life to the full.
Happy are we to listen to him. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God, eternal Shepherd of your people,
it was good to hear the voice of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd,
and to receive him as the food of life.
Let him lead us to a valley of peace
where we too learn from him
to call each other by name,
to have time and space for one another
and to give not just gifts but ourselves,
that others may live and be free.
Let this be a token and pledge
of the joy of your eternal home.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

In this eucharistic celebration
we have grown in love and trust
in Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
Through him we have also grown in trust in each other
and in a sense of belonging and community.
When our Shepherd brings us together,
what else can we do than realize
that we belong together as God's people
and that, like our Lord,
we have to live for one another.
May you put this into practice these days
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit . R/ Amen.

Go in peace and let Christ be your guide. R/ Thanks be to God.