Fourth Sunday of Easter

Homily Video

Fourth Sunday of Easter Homily Transcript

So who pushes your buttons? Who in your life drives you a little bit crazy? Who might you not care about or like as much as maybe we should? All of us have a person like that in our lives, someone who’s difficult, perhaps, to like.

Well, if we think about the ancient world, they found it very difficult to like people who were different than themselves. If you weren’t of the same tribe, or the same religious group, you were often despised, unliked, even hated. But all of that changes with the coming of Jesus, because the readings during the Easter season remind us that Jesus came and lived for all. He died for all. He loved all.

Today in the second reading, we hear this beautiful image, how John saw this vision. It was a vision of all nations, and tongues, and people, all bowing down before the lamb. And it’s a beautiful image that reminds us that God is the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. God is the God of all, who loves all without exception.

And so today, one of the things that we might want to think about are those people, or those groups, who we find it a little bit difficult to appreciate and to care about as we should. Think about those people, or perhaps that person, and remember that Jesus came to remind us that we are all precious in the eyes of God. And so, if we think following Jesus, being part of the sheepfold, means all thinking alike, acting alike, doing the same things alike, voting alike, we’re going to be sadly mistaken. We’re kidding ourselves, because as we celebrate this great gift of Easter, Jesus comes to remind us all are precious in the eyes of God. Now today, and in the week ahead, think about that person, or that group of people, perhaps, who you have a difficult time with and pray for them, remembering we are all precious in God’s eyes.

Readings

First Reading:

Apostles 13:14, 43-52

Second Reading:

Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

Gospel:

John 10:27-30

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