CUARTO DOMINGO DE PASCUA 2025

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, el Evangelio de este domingo nos invita a reconocer a Jesús como la voz del Buen Pastor, que quiere conducirnos a la Vida Eterna. De ahí que la pregunta fundamental para este domingo es si nosotros somos capaces de distinguir claramente su voz entre tantas otras voces que escuchamos a diario. Algunas preguntas más: ¿Cuántas personas crees tú que se salvarán? ¿Serán muchas o pocas? ¿Eres capaz de distinguir la voz de tus padres de otras veces? ¿Eres capaz de reconocer las palabras de Jesús?

La Palabra de Dios en este Cuarto Domingo de Pascua nos presenta, en la lectura de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, un contraste entre los judíos y los paganos. Los judíos se negaron a escuchar el Evangelio de Jesús y a aceptarlo como su Mesías, mientras que los paganos, en cambio, recibieron el Evangelio con los brazos abiertos y lo aceptaron en sus vidas. La paradoja de esta lectura es que se esperaba que los judíos fueran los primeros en acoger el Evangelio como Palabra de Dios, porque habían esperado mucho tiempo a que el Mesías viniera a ellos. Sin embargo, cuando llegó el Mesías, lo rechazaron. Se opusieron a Pablo y Bernabé y los expulsaron de su ciudad. En el Apocalipsis, Juan nos dice que vio una «multitud innumerable» de personas de todas las razas, lenguas y naciones en la presencia de Dios. El apóstol declara así que TODOS estamos llamados a la salvación y que no es sólo para unos pocos, sino para muchos la entrada en el cielo. En el Evangelio, Jesús se presenta como El Buen Pastor y dice: «Mis ovejas oyen mi Voz. Yo las conozco y me siguen. Yo les doy la Vida Eterna». » Queridos hermanos y hermanas, es bueno preguntarnos hoy si CONOCEMOS la Voz de Dios. ¿Somos capaces de distinguir Su Voz en medio de las muchas «voces» y confusos argumentos ruidosos que oímos cada día en este mundo?

¿Sabes que Jesús te llama por tu nombre? ¿Sabes que Él te conoce y se preocupa por ti? Jesús dice que sus ovejas no sólo le escuchan, sino que le siguen, es decir, que van donde Él va y que nunca son abandonadas por Él, ni conducidas a pastos inseguros o peligrosos. Seguir a Jesús significa conocerle, amarle y hacer su Voluntad a cambio de recibir la Vida Eterna en el Cielo con Él. Pidámosle hoy a Jesús que nos dé la capacidad de escuchar siempre Su Voz y de seguirlo adonde Él nos diga que vayamos.

Este cuarto domingo de Pascua se llama el Domingo del Buen Pastor. Es un día especial en el que la iglesia nos convoca para rezar por las vocaciones en todo el mundo, y es también un día para rezar por nuestros líderes católicos, por nuestro Papa, Obispos, párrocos y diáconos y aquellos que han consagrado su vida a Dios en la vida religiosa. Hoy es un día para dar gracias a nuestros sacerdotes, para animarles a seguir siendo servidores del Señor. Hoy es un día para no criticarlos, sino para rezar por ellos. Recemos por nuestro Vicario el Padre Rajesh, por nuestro diacono Jaime, y por mí su humilde párroco, padre Luis Segura, pidiéndole a Jesús que él nos ayude a ser pastores conforme a su Corazón, y humildes servidores de su iglesia. Por otro lado este domingo también celebramos el Día de la Madre, una ocasión alegre para felicitar a nuestras queridas madres por el regalo de habernos traído al mundo, por estar siempre con nosotros, por educarnos y ayudarnos a ser lo que somos hoy y por su amor infinito hacia nosotros.

Creo que si le preguntas a tu madre: «¿Qué quieres de mí?», probablemente te respondería: «Quiero que seas una buena persona, que te comportes de buena manera y que no seas un dolor de cabeza para mí». En otra palabras que seas un buen ser humano. Lo que ella quiere de ti es que la amas y te portes bien, si haces eso puedes ir a comprarle un buen regalo al centro comercial. ¡Felicidades a todas nuestras madres! Y Dios las bendiga siempre.

P. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 2025

Dear brothers and sisters, this Sunday's Gospel invites us to recognize Jesus as the voice of the Good Shepherd, who wants to lead us to Eternal Life. Therefore, the fundamental question for this Sunday is whether we are able to clearly distinguish his voice among the many other voices we hear every day. A few more questions: How many people do you think will be saved? Will it be many or few? Are you able to distinguish the voice of your parents from other times? Are you able to recognize Jesus' words?

The Word of God on this Fourth Sunday of Easter presents us, in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, a contrast between the Jews and the pagans. The Jews refused to listen to the Gospel of Jesus and accept Him as their Messiah, while the pagans, on the other hand, welcomed the Gospel with open arms and accepted Him into their lives. The paradox of this reading is that the Jews were expected to be the first to welcome the Gospel as the Word of God, because they had waited a long time for the Messiah to come to them. However, when the Messiah arrived, they rejected Him. They opposed Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their city. In the Book of Revelation, John tells us that he saw an "innumerable multitude" of people from every race, language, and nation in the presence of God. The apostle thus declares that we are all called to salvation and that entry into heaven is not just for a few, but for many. In the Gospel, Jesus presents himself as the Good Shepherd and says: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life.” Dear brothers and sisters, it is good to ask ourselves today if we KNOW the Voice of God. Are we able to distinguish His Voice amid the many “voices” and confusing, noisy arguments we hear every day in this world?

Do you know that Jesus calls you by name? Do you know that He knows you and cares for you? Jesus says that His sheep not only listen to Him, but follow Him—that is, they go where He goes and are never abandoned by Him, nor led to unsafe or dangerous pastures. Following Jesus means knowing Him, loving Him, and doing His will in exchange for receiving eternal life in Heaven with Him. Let us ask Jesus today to give us the ability to always hear His voice and follow Him wherever He tells us to go.

This fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday. It is a special day on which the Church calls us to pray for vocations throughout the world, and it is also a day to pray for our Catholic leaders, for our Pope, bishops, parish priests, and deacons, and those who have consecrated their lives to God in religious life. Today is a day to give thanks to our priests, to encourage them to continue being servants of the Lord. Today is a day not to criticize them, but to pray for them. Let us pray for our Vicar, Father Rajesh, for our deacon Jaime, and for me, your humble parish priest, Father Luis Segura, asking Jesus to help us be shepherds according to His Heart, and humble servants of His Church. On the other hand, this Sunday we also celebrate Mother's Day, a joyful occasion to congratulate our beloved mothers for the gift of bringing us into the world, for always being with us, for raising us and helping us become who we are today, and for their endless love for us.

I think if you asked your mother, "What do you want from me?" she would probably answer, "I want you to be a good person, to behave well, and not be a pain in my neck." In other words, to be a good human being. What she wants from you is for you to love her and behave well. If you do that, you can go buy her a nice gift at the mall. Congratulations to all our mothers! And God bless you always.

Fr. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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Jesus, the Good Shepherd…

The Gospel of the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:27-30) offers us some of Jesus’ expressions during the feast of the dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem, which is celebrated at the end of December. He is found on the Temple grounds, and perhaps that enclosed sacred space suggested to Him the image of the sheepfold and the shepherd. Jesus is presented as “the Good Shepherd”, and says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand” (vv. 27-28). These words help us to understand that no one can call himself a follower of Jesus, if he does not listen to His voice. And this “listening” should not be understood in a superficial way, but in an engaging way, to the point of making possible a true mutual understanding, from which one can come to a generous following, expressed in the words, ‘and they follow me’ (v. 27). It is a matter of listening not only with ears, but listening with the heart!

And so, the image of the shepherd and the sheep indicates the close relationship that Jesus wants to establish with each one of us. He is our guide, our teacher, our friend, our model, but above all he is our Savior. In fact, the following expressions from the Gospel passage affirm, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand” (v. 28). Who can say that? Only Jesus, because the “hand” of Jesus is one thing with the “hand” of the Father, and the Father is “greater than all” (cf. v. 29).

These words communicate to us a sense of absolute security and immense tenderness. Our life is fully secure in the hands of Jesus and the Father, which are a single thing: a unique love, a unique mercy, revealed once and for all in the sacrifice of the Cross. To save the lost sheep which we all are, the Shepherd became lamb, and let himself be immolated so as to take upon himself and to take away the sin of the world. In this way he has given us life, life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10)! This mystery is renewed, in an always surprising humility, on the Eucharistic table. It is there that the sheep gather to nourish themselves; it is there that they become one, among themselves and with the Good Shepherd.

Because of this we are no longer afraid: our life is now saved from perdition. Nothing and no one can take us from the hands of Jesus, because nothing and no one can overcome his love. Jesus’ love is invincible. The evil one, the great enemy of God and of his creatures, attempts in many ways to take eternal life from us. But the evil one can do nothing if we ourselves do not open the doors of our hearts to him, by following his deceitful enticements.

The Virgin Mary heard and obediently followed the voice of the Good Shepherd. May she help us to welcome with joy Jesus’ invitation to become his disciples, and to always live in the certainty of being in the paternal hands of the Father. [synthesized from Pope Francis, Regina Caeli, 16 IV 2016]

Rev. Rajesh Peter

4th Sunday of Easter – Cycle C

Good Shepherd Sunday and World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Fr. Luis and Fr. Raj and our parish staff wish a Happy Mothers Day to all mothers; grandmothers; and mothers-to-be.  May you be filled with God’s choicest blessings.  

We remember also the mothers who have gone before us.

And, of course, we honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  We ask that she pray for us and watch over us.

My friends, our Church is celebrating two things today:    

• “World Day of Prayer for Vocations." 

• "Good Shepherd Sunday"

World Day of Prayer for Vocations:  We pray for those who are discerning their vocation in the Church – whether it be a vocation to the priesthood; permanent diaconate; consecrated life as a religious brother or sister; Lay Minister, serving as a Catechetical or Liturgical Minister; or parishioner.  All Catholics are called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Good Shepherd Sunday:  It is fitting indeed that we have a new pope, our new shepherd.  Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected and has chosen the name, “Leo XIV.”  Pope Leo is now our Shepherd and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he will guide our Church.  Let us pray for him and his ministry of Leader and Servant.

The focus in our gospel today is Jesus Christ – the Good Shepherd.  Today we have one of the shortest gospels of the year.  It is also one of the most powerful.  It contains the ultimate message of hope.  Hope for everyone.

Today Jesus refers to sheep and shepherds because that was the lifestyle and reality of so many people in the region at the time.  Recall that at the end of last week’s gospel, Jesus told Peter: 

“Feed my lambs.  Tend my sheep.  Feed my Sheep.

This image – this analogy – of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is one of the most comforting images we could ever have of being protected; being cared for; and being loved unconditionally.  

Today he calls us his sheep:  “I give them eternal life.  They shall never perish.   No one can take them out of my hand.” Wow !

In another reference to sheep, Matthew’s gospel tells us:  “When Jesus saw the crowds – his heart was moved with pity.  Jesus said: “They are like sheep without a shepherd.”

My friends, history has shown – throughout the centuries – people are followers.  People need a leader.  Some would say that’s not very complementary but it’s true.  We recently experienced this when Pope Francis died and we longed for the new leader of our Church.

We need someone to look up to and what better person to look up to and follow than Jesus.  That’s why we have the analogy of the Good Shepherd who takes care of and protects his sheep from thieves and marauders.  Jesus Christ protects us from leaders who would lead us astray with lies and deception. 

The Good Shepherd not only protects his sheep – he goes after and brings back the lost sheep who left the flock – or were driven away – for whatever reason. 

He also goes after and reaches out to those who are called the ‘Black Sheep of the family’ because they are considered sinners or have hurt someone deeply or they choose to follow an alternate path in life.  This message also gives hope to those of us who might be worried about someone – who we perceive – as having gone astray.  We pray that Jesus will rescue those who we consider hopeless.

No one is beyond Christ’s reach.  No one is beyond reconciliation. 

For this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis wrote on March 19, 2025:  “As Christians, we are called to be leaders and witnesses of hope who proclaim with our lives that following Christ is a source of true joy.”

St. Francis of Assisi urged us in these words, "Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words."