Sunday, May 8
Fourth Sunday of Easter
“How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?”
Reflection
Today the reading from the Book of Revelation refers to Christ as the Lamb. The Gospel of John refers to the believers as sheep. What is the significance of these common animals as symbols in Sacred Scripture?
There is nothing more tender and innocent than a lamb. It is common at the Easter dinner table to see a representation of a Lamb, sometimes in butter or if you are lucky, as a cake! Do we see the sheep represented? Well of course, they are the ones sitting around the table waiting for the Lamb to feed them! They are us!
The sheep may not be as innocent as the Lamb, but through Baptism, Christ calls them to become innocent. We remember the innocence of Christ as the Lamb that they led to slaughter. In the Book of Revelation, we hear that the great multitude, the sheep, have survived the “great time of distress” and “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” For this, they are thankful, and they now worship the Lamb of God sent to supply all their needs.
This Easter, may we recognize that the Lamb of God, Jesus the Christ, has been sent to us, not only to teach and heal us, not only to guide and forgive us, but to lead us to eternal life with the Father. For this must give thanks, and realize that God gives us eternal life only through the selfless love of Christ!
Peace,
Fr. John
Would you like to receive these reflections in your inbox? Subscribe to The Sunday Read newsletter.