Second Sunday after Easter, April 14th, 2024

 Second Sunday after Easter, April 14th, 2024

In today's Gospel passage coming to us from St. John we hear Our Blessed Saviour refer to Himself as the Good Shepherd:  "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep"  (St. John 10:11)   Our Lord compares and contrasts the difference between someone who truly cares about the sheep to someone who is merely a "hireling."  Our Lord states that the hireling is someone who does not have true concern for the sheep whereas a good shepherd will defend the sheep with his life.  I see so many examples of "good shepherds" around me on a daily basis.  I see those who are first responders who do not fail to rush head-first into danger.  Policemen, Firemen, Paramedics, Department of Corrections, . . . . These brave men and women think of others first before they think of their own personal safety.  And, quite frankly, they never know what the day will bring.  Look at the case of the New York City policeman who recently went up to a car which was parked illegally in a bus zone and he ended up losing his life in the process.  You hear about brave firefighters who go rushing head-first into burning buildings and think not of their own safety but instead focus on saving those inside the building.  And as a Department of Corrections Chaplain, I see what Correctional works go through on a daily basis:  working long hours in stressful situations; looking after a population who does not care about anyone else, let alone themselves. How about other examples around us such as the dedicated teachers who also work long hours preparing lesson plans, teaching students, grading tests.  And they do what they do because they want to make a difference in their students' life.  The same can be said for those dedicated parents who lay down their lives on a daily basis to give their children a better life.  These dedicated mothers and fathers work day after day to provide for their children a better life.  They want their children to have a better life than they had.  And they do it because they love their children.  "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep"  In all of these examples mentioned and so many more we see people all over the world doing what they can to make the world a better place.  This is the example Our Lord teaches us that we are called to do what we can for others.   Go out and be God's instrument in the world.  Do what you can to make the world a better place in the Name of God.  Offer up your daily sacrifices and let God take care of the rest.

Please make a point to join us for Mass on Sunday.  St. Margaret Church gathers together each and every Sunday at 10:30 am.  We worship at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Join us as we listen to the Word of God found in the King James Version of the Bible.  We use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  And receive the Most Precious Body and Blood of Our Saviour at Communion time.   We are all busy.  We all lead busy lives.  Take an hour out of your busy week and dedicate it to God.  Give that hour to God and spend it with Him.