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Good Shepherd Sunday

 

22At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 25Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 30The Father and I are one.”  

John 10:22-30

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Two Sisters on the Terrace

RENOIR, Pierre-Auguste

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/14655/two-sisters-on-the-terrace

One of my fondest memories is of Mother taking me on the train to Chicago 

where we had lunch at Marshall Field's and then went to the Art Institute.

We would always stop to view Mother's favorite painting,

Two Sisters on the Terrace,

before returning home on the train.

It was always a white glove day!

 

 

When we see men 

of a contrary character, 

we should turn inwards and 

examine ourselves.

~ Confucius

 

 

There are no wise few.

Every aristocracy that has ever existed

has behaved, in all essential points,

exactly like a small mob.

~ G.K. Chesterton

 

 

 

 

 

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Happy Birthday in Tokyo, Robin!

 

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According to the news, we had 19” of snow.

It melted so quickly I never saw more that six or eight inches at a time.

 

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Carolyn Alexander and Rebecca Martin at a delicious soft-opening of the new

Cheesecake Factory in Colorado Mills.

 

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We had already nibbled before I took the photo.

 

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Gail Sharp, Katie Prolow, Annette Bradley 

at Rotary

 

 

 

Peace be with all of you.

~ Pope Leo XIV

 

 

 

May 11, 2025 - Fourth Sunday of Easter - Year C

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

 

28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30The Father and I are one.”

 John 10:22-30

                                                

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

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Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

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LECTIONARY

Acts 9:36–43 

Psalm 23 

Revelation7:9–17 

John 10:22–30

 

THE WORD:

Today’s brief Gospel is the conclusion of the Good Shepherd discourse in Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel.  Yahweh, the eternal shepherd of Israel (cf. Ezekiel 34), has raised up his own Son as the Good Shepherd to guide the new Israel of the Church to eternal life.  In listening to the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the “flock” finds its way to the Father.

 

 

First Reading Acts 9:36-43

36Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." 39So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Psalm 23:1-6

1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

3he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths

for his name's sake.

4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff-

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

my whole life long.

Second Reading Revelation 7:9-17

9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Gospel John 10:22-30

22At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 25Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 30The Father and I are one."