The sheepfold represents a place of security,

No one can enter the fold except through the Good Shepherd.

My sheep hear My voice, t expresses personal intimacy between the shepherd and his sheep.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 13:14, 43-52

While they went on

From Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia.

On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down.

After that, when the assembly broke up, many Jews and devout God-fearing people followed them;

and to these, they spoke, urging them to hold fast to the grace of God.

 

The following Sabbath almost the entire city gathered to listen to Paul, who spoke a fairly long time about the Lord.

But the presence of such a crowd made the Jews jealous. So they began to oppose with insults whatever Paul said.

 

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out firmly, saying, "It was necessary that God's word be first proclaimed to you,

but since you now reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we turn to non-Jewish people.

For thus we were commanded by the Lord: I have set you as a light to the pagan nations,

so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

 

Those who were not Jews rejoiced when they heard this, and praised the message of the Lord;

and all those destined for everlasting life believed in it. Thus the word spread throughout the whole region.

Some of the Jews, however, incited God fearing women of the upper class and the leading men of the city as well,

and stirred up an intense persecution against Paul and Barnabas. Finally, they had them expelled from their region.

The apostles shook the dust from their feet in protest against this people, and went to Iconium,

leaving the disciples, filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

 

Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5 We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

After this, I saw a great crowd, impossible to count, from every nation, race, people and tongue,

standing before the throne, and the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands.

 

The elder replied, "They are those who have come out of the great persecution;

they have washed and made their clothes white in the blood of the Lamb.

This is why they stand before the throne of God and serve him, day and night, in his Sanctuary.

He, who sits on the throne, will spread his tent over them. Never again will they suffer hunger or thirst, or be burned by the sun,

or any scorching wind. For the Lamb, near the throne, will be their Shepherd,

and he will bring them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away their tears."

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 10:27-30

My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me and I give them eternal life.

They shall never perish, and no one will ever steal them from me.

What my Father has given me is greater than all things else.

To snatch it out of the Father's hand, no one is able! I and the Father are One."

 

Reflection:

 

Lectio Divina

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"My sheep hear my voice."

Read: The flock of Jesus Christ, the Church, continues to grow through the preaching of the Apostles,

as the Good News is for all peoples. The sheep follow Christ the Good Shepherd to eternal life.

 

Reflect: Today the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

Each of us has a calling to love and serve the God who made us, but in different ways.

Today the Church prays in particular that more people will respond to the call to serve the Lord as priest, deacon or religious.

Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me and I give them eternal life."

 

Those called to vocations of preaching and proclaiming the Kingdom of God

by their words and lives have a particular task to reveal Christ's voice, so that his sheep can hear him clearly.

Christ speaks to us his sheep in our personal prayer, in our encounters with others

and especially through the liturgies and Sacraments. Pray for more priestly and religious vocations,

so that Christ's voice might be heard loud and clear.

 

Pray: Pray for more vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life.

 

Act: Talk about vocations in your family. Pray regularly as a family for more vocations.