4th Sunday of Easter (May 11, 2025)
Acts 13.14, 43-52; Rev 7.9, 14b-17; Jn 10.27-30
Preaching the Gospel of Life is challenging in today’s secular culture. It was also challenging for St. Paul and St. Barnabas as their experience in Antioch is described in the first reading. And yet, amid persecution “the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit”.
As Catholics, we must not shrink in fear before the hostility we face when standing up for the inherent dignity of pre-born children against the injustice of abortion as well as the devaluing of human life in the practice of euthanasia. When we are shunned and ridiculed, we must turn to the Holy Spirit for the grace to persevere with courageous witness to the value of all human life from conception to natural death.
On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we are reminded that whatever persecution we suffer in this life for the proclamation of the Gospel of Life is nothing compared to the reward of being united with those who stand “before the throne of God”.
Pro-Life Intercession
That through the grace of the Good Shepherd, aspiring priests may persevere and become fearless preachers of the Gospel of Life, we pray to the Lord ...