Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 17, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 13:14, 43-52 / Ps 100 / Rev 7:9, 14B-17 / Jn 10:27-30
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

About five decades ago, my uncle convinced my mom to allow me to spend a couple of days with his family in another province in the Philippine Islands.  I had a childhood experience that I will never forget, because that was my very first sleepover.  I went to a house that was fifteen hours away from home.

Before we left, my grandmother told my uncle that he should see to it that I had a blanket when I went to bed.  He said, “Sure, but it is more than 95 degrees at our place.”  My grandmother, who probably knew me better than anyone else in our family, including my mom, told him that it didn’t really matter.  “Even if it is more than 100 degrees there, Salvador still needs a blanket; otherwise, he will not be able to sleep at all.”

It is really nice when you are in the company of people who truly know you.  Even without telling them, they know what you need.  In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus said, “I know my sheep.”  Today’s Psalm reminds us of the great news that we, who are God’s people, are the sheep of His flock and God knows us even better than we know ourselves. At one point Jesus said, “Even the hairs of your head have all been counted, so do not be afraid.”  This is how important we are to our God.  In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “Your Father in heaven knows what you need, even before you ask Him.”

As we gather together in this Mass, the Lord God knows the divine favor that we need, because each and every one of us has trials and difficulties.  He knows the type of cross that we are carrying; but he also knows our strength and power, because he is our Creator.  In His infinite wisdom, He will not allow us to carry a cross that is too heavy for us. Time and again, our Holy Mother Church reminds us that we should always have in mind our Lord’s promise that He will be with us always.  St. Paul said, “If God is with us, who can be against us?”

Human as we are, we all have moments of weakness.  When this happens, may we always remember that the Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd who knows us so well, is with us and will always be there for us.   As He said in St. Matthew’s gospel, “Come to Me, all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest.”