the rejected stone

May 3, 2009
Reading 1
Acts 4:8-12
It was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. . . . He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his kindness endures forever.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

Reading II
1 Jn 3:1-2
See what love the Father has bestowed on us ,that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Gospel
Jn 10:11-18
"I am the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. "

Reflection
In the name of Jesus Christ people who are dead are raised by Peter. Psalmist praises the one who comes in the name of the Lord and all people who come in the name of the Lord. Those who bear the name 'Christians' being praised by the psalmist as a continuation of the ancestry of the children of God starting from Christ.

This is being confirmed by the love lavished upon us by God the father by making us the children of God. The journey of a Christian is mentioned by John in the second reading - a journey from being children of God to 'like God'. What a previlege is being offered by God!

Gospel talks about the Good Shepherd who accompanies in our journey. The Good Shepherd has laid down his life for us.

Lord, wolves from within and around attack us. I often fail to call on you. Forgive me, a sinner for not cherishing your love and life you gave me.