Fourth Sunday of Easter
3rd
May 2020
This
Sunday is normally known as Good Shepherd Sunday because of the readings we are
presented with on this day. The Gospel from John this year has the beautiful
image of the shepherd who cares for his sheep and knows each and every one of
his own.
‘The one who enters through the
gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear
his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has
brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they
know his voice.’
(Jn 10:2-4)
The sheep
follow because they recognise the familiar voice of their master. They trust
him because they have experienced his protection in the past, they feel secure
with him because he knows his own, individually and personally.
I think
The Good Shepherd image that Jesus presents us with today is very apt,
especially in our present situation. All the technology and science, all the
best human endeavours, all the greatest mind empowering and healing skills will
never ever reach the same par as truly knowing the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ
himself. To know the Lord, to love the Lord, to serve the Lord is that which
allows us to face any challenge in this life. It does not mean it will be easy,
but the voice of the Shepherd that calls us is far more powerful and
efficacious than anything else.
Let us, as
always, set some time aside for The Good Shepherd this Sunday and listen to his
voice. Listen in the silence of our homes to the voice of God that wants to
reassure us, that wants to love us. Listen to the voice of God that wants to
challenge us about our lives, our relationships, our strengths and weaknesses.
Listen to the voice of God about the future, our future, our families future
our worlds future.
Prayer to the Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd of the flock, you
tend and feed and protect your chosen people and only ask us to put our trust
in your loving care. As host you entertain us at your welcome table and anoint
us with your Holy Spirit. Make us ever thankful for all your blessings, O
Saviour of the world, living and reigning with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now
and for ever. Amen
Finance
and Donations
Good News!
The diocese has set up a system to make it easier for people to donate to their
parish by standing order or by a one off payment. It is quick, safe and
private. If you go to the diocesan web page www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk
at the top right hand corner you will see a red box that says ‘DONATE’. By
clicking on that you can donate money to St. Mary’s Oswaldtwistle, through the
main diocesan system and your donation will come straight to the parish.
Spiritual
Reading and Nourishment
Many
people are finding that they have some spare time each week. There is only so
much housework, gardening and D.I.Y you can do. I thought I’d recommend some
good books for spiritual reading during the lockdown if people have a little
more time.
Catholic
Novels
•
Brideshead
Revisited: The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder
by Evelyn Waugh.
•
Father
Elijah: An Apocalypse by
Michael D. O’Brien
•
Silence
by Shusaku
Endo
•
Strangers
and Sojourners: A Novel
by Michael D. O’Brien
•
The
Complete Stories
by Flannery O’Connor
•
The
Power and the Glory
by Graham Greene
•
The
Robe by Lloyd
C. Douglas
•
The
Screwtape Letters
by C.S Lewis
•
The
Spear by
Louis de Wohl
Scripture
•
God
With Us: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew by Edward Sri
•
Jesus
the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre
•
Journeying
with Jonah: The struggle to find yourself by Denis McBride
•
The
Lambs Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn
Catholic
Faith
•
Consecration
to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Donald Calloway
•
Into
His Likeness: Be Transformed as a Disciple of Christ by Edward Sri
•
Catholic
and Christian: An Explanation of Commonly Misunderstood Catholic Beliefs
by Alan Schreck
•
Praying
The Rosary Like Never Before: Encounter the Wonder of Heaven and Earth
by Edward Sri
Lives
of Saints
•
Bernadette
of Lourdes by
René Laurentin
•
Consecration
to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by D. Calloway
•
Charles
De Foucauld (Charles of Jesus) by Jean-Jaques Antier
•
Fatima
in Lucia’s Own Words: Sister Lucia’s Memoirs edited by Fr. Lois Kondor, SVD
•
John
Henry Newman. His Inner Life by
Dr. Zeno, Capuchin
•
Saint
Mary Magdalene: Prophetess of Eucharistic Love by Sean Davidson
•
The
Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle. Saint Manuel González Garcia
by Victoria Schneider
•
The
Story of a Soul. The Autobiography of The Little Flower
by St. Thérese of Lisieux
Monastic
Spirituality
•
The
Cistercian Way
by André Louf
•
Befriending
Silence: Discovering the Gifts of Cistercian Spirituality by Carl McColman
•
Report
from Calabria: A Season with the Carthusian Monks by a priest
•
Sacred
Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina by Michael Casey
God Bless
and keep praying.
Our Lady
of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
St.
Joseph, pray for us.
Fr.
O’Brien
