{"id":3456,"date":"2025-05-07T15:49:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T19:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/?p=3456"},"modified":"2025-05-07T16:02:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T20:02:24","slug":"the-fourth-sunday-of-easter-year-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2025\/05\/07\/the-fourth-sunday-of-easter-year-c\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2014The Fourth Sunday of Easter &#8211; Year C"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3456\" class=\"elementor elementor-3456\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b8d22d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"31637\" data-id=\"b8d22d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99f195b\" data-eae-slider=\"40587\" data-id=\"99f195b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c77524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c77524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Fourth Sunday of Easter\u2014Year C<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29335d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"25695\" data-id=\"29335d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2633fe8\" data-eae-slider=\"68885\" data-id=\"2633fe8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99c059b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"99c059b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-511f73c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"511f73c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading I<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d358f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d358f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/acts\/13?14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>Acts 13:14, 43-52<\/strong><\/em><\/a><br \/>Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga<br \/>and reached Antioch in Pisidia.<br \/>On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.<br \/>Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism<br \/>followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them<br \/>and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.<br \/>On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered<br \/>to hear the word of the Lord.<br \/>When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy<br \/>and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.<br \/>Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,<br \/>\u201cIt was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,<br \/>but since you reject it<br \/>and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,<br \/>we now turn to the Gentiles.<br \/>For so the Lord has commanded us,<br \/>I have made you a light to the Gentiles,<br \/>that you may be an instrument of salvation<br \/>to the ends of the earth.\u201d<br \/>The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this<br \/>and glorified the word of the Lord.<br \/>All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,<br \/>and the word of the Lord continued to spread<br \/>through the whole region.<br \/>The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers<br \/>and the leading men of the city,<br \/>stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,<br \/>and expelled them from their territory.<br \/>So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them,<br \/>and went to Iconium.<br \/>The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-568d889 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"568d889\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Responsorial Psalm<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ce29ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ce29ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/100?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/><em><strong>R.(3c) We are his people, the sheep of his flock.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;<br \/>serve the LORD with gladness;<br \/>come before him with joyful song.<br \/><strong><em>R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>Know that the LORD is God;<br \/>he made us, his we are;<br \/>his people, the flock he tends.<br \/><strong><em>R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>The LORD is good:<br \/>his kindness endures forever,<br \/>and his faithfulness, to all generations.<br \/><em><strong>R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.<br \/><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ffa7f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0ffa7f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading II<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dc261d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dc261d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/revelation\/7?9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Revelation 7:9, 14b-17<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,<br \/>which no one could count,<br \/>from every nation, race, people, and tongue.<br \/>They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,<br \/>wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.<br \/>Then one of the elders said to me,<br \/>\u201cThese are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;<br \/>they have washed their robes<br \/>and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.<br \/>\u201cFor this reason they stand before God\u2019s throne<br \/>and worship him day and night in his temple.<br \/>The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.<br \/>They will not hunger or thirst anymore,<br \/>nor will the sun or any heat strike them.<br \/>For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne<br \/>will shepherd them<br \/>and lead them to springs of life-giving water,<br \/>and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-091e9f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"091e9f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Alleluia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff46c7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"92625\" data-id=\"ff46c7f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8b74efa\" data-eae-slider=\"67335\" data-id=\"8b74efa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c71559 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c71559\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/john\/10?14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>John 10:14<\/strong><\/em><\/a><br \/><em><strong>R. Alleluia, alleluia.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;<br \/>I know my sheep, and mine know me.<br \/><strong><em>R. Alleluia, alleluia.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-055ecc5\" data-eae-slider=\"52812\" data-id=\"055ecc5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc12a73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc12a73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e224d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e224d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/john\/10?27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>John 10:27-30<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Jesus said:<br \/>\u201cMy sheep hear my voice;<br \/>I know them, and they follow me.<br \/>I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.<br \/>No one can take them out of my hand.<br \/>My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,<br \/>and no one can take them out of the Father\u2019s hand.<br \/>The Father and I are one.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7016bb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7016bb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Exegesis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e16f610 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e16f610\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/acts\/13?14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Acts 13:14, 43-52<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>\u201cNow there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers\u2026 While they were worshiping<br \/>the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, \u2018Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to<br \/>which I have called them.\u2019 Then completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and<br \/>sent them off. So, they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there<br \/>sailed to Cyprus.\u201d (Acts 13: 1-3). Thus began the first missionary journey of Paul.<br \/>As our selected passage begins Paul and Barnabas are now in Antioch in Pisidia, not to be confused<br \/>with the town of Antioch of Syria from which they began their journey. Antioch of Pisidia<br \/>was a city in southern Galatia. It was the home of a large Jewish community that formed during<br \/>the Diaspora. Paul and Barnabas have entered the Jewish Synagogue where Paul delivers his inaugural<br \/>address to the gathering which consisted of both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, e.g., \u201cSo<br \/>Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, \u2018Men of Israel and you that fear God, listen.\u2019\u201d<br \/>(Acts 13: 16).<br \/>Paul proceeded to deliver a powerful sermon beginning with the history of the God\u2019s saving hand<br \/>in Israelite history. From the line of David, Paul introduces Jesus as the fulfilment of God\u2019s plan:<br \/>\u201cYahweh said, \u2018I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my<br \/>will.\u2019 Of this man\u2019s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised.\u201d (Acts<br \/>13: 22-23). Paul\u2019s moving words brought much joy and excitement among the people and jealousy<br \/>among many Jewish leaders, as the crowed begged Paul and Barnabas to return on the following<br \/>Sabbath, such that now nearly the entire town would turn out.<br \/>The Israelite People considered themselves to be chosen. Yahweh would affirm this and clearly<br \/>state His intentions on numerous occasions, e.g., \u201cToday we are making this agreement with the<br \/>Lord: He is to be your God, and you are to walk in His ways and observe His statutes, commandments<br \/>and decrees, and harken to His voice. And today the Lord is making this agreement with<br \/>you: you are to be a people peculiarly His own.\u201d (Duet 26: 17-18). St. Paul reminds the people<br \/>that they were also chosen by God for a purpose as he quotes from the Prophet Isaiah: \u201cI will<br \/>make you a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.\u201d (Is 49: 6).<br \/>The universal promise of salvation brought great delight to the Gentile crowds. Many of the Jewish<br \/>people, especially the leaders took exception to this, as it required a shift in their way of thinking<br \/>that had been entrenched in their customs over the centuries. Avoidance and segregation<br \/>from pagan people and cultures was common. It was customary to shake the dust off of their feet<br \/>as they left Gentile territory returning to Jewish lands. Ironically, as they are rejected by the religious<br \/>leaders, Paul and Barnabas shake the dust from their feet as they now move on.<br \/>Recall that this is something that Jesus instructed the disciples to do when they faced rejection:<br \/>\u201cWhoever will not receive you or listen to your words, go outside that house or town and shake<br \/>the dust from your feet.\u201d Jesus is stressing the importance of continuing to proclaim the word,<br \/>and not to dwell on rejection.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17fc5a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"17fc5a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/100?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Psalm 100 is a short psalm that consists of just five verses. It is recognized as a processional<br \/>hymn for a religious ceremony. The psalmist introduces the theme in verse one as, A Psalm of<br \/>Thanksgiving.<br \/>The psalm is inviting all people to join in joyful song of praise and thanksgiving to God. In doing<br \/>so, the psalm in acknowledging that all people are God\u2019s people. Know that the Lord is God, our<br \/>maker to whom we belong, whose people we are, God\u2019s well-tended flock. The first part of this<br \/>verse echoes the Prophet Isaiah: \u201cYet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay and You the<br \/>potter: we are all the work of Your hands.\u201d (Is 64: 7). The final phrase of the verse is similar to<br \/>Micah 7: 14: \u201cShepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your inheritance.\u201d Whereas<br \/>the flock that Yahweh promises to shepherd is typically in reference to the Israelite people, its usage<br \/>here seems more universal in nature, as all people have God as their creator.<br \/>All are called to enter the temple Gates, i.e., to approach God, with praise and thanksgiving for<br \/>God\u2019s enduring love and faithfulness. The LORD is good: his kindness endures forever, and<br \/>his faithfulness, to all generations. The Hebrew word that is translated here as kindness, is<br \/>hesed. Hesed is one of the most common words used to describe God. Hesed is also translated<br \/>as steadfast love, enduring mercy, goodness, kindness, faithfulness and rock. There is<br \/>an element of immutability and endurance within the connotation of the word. Hesed speaks<br \/>of the steadfast unchangeable love and mercy that describes who God is. The psalmist is<br \/>calling upon all of humankind to give thanks to God for this steadfast enduring love. The<br \/>psalm is calling for an outward communal expression of gratitude.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acdbdbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"acdbdbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/revelation\/7?9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Revelation 7:9, 14b-17<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>I, John, had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation,<br \/>race, people, and tongue. The vision of John now moves from an earthly vision earlier<br \/>in Chapter 7 to a heavenly vision. John now has a vision of the Church Triumphant<br \/>gathered around the throne of God and the Lamb. The great multitude, like the 144,000<br \/>mentioned earlier, represents a gathering of souls too large to count. It fulfills the<br \/>promise of God to Abram: \u201cHe took him outside and said, \u2018Look up at the sky and count<br \/>the stars, if you can. Just so,\u2019 He added, \u2018shall your descendants be.\u2019\u201d (Gen 15: 5). Likewise,<br \/>the fact that they come from many nations also fulfills the promise of God to Abram:<br \/>\u201cNo longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you<br \/>father of a host of nations.\u201d (Gen 17: 5).<br \/>They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding<br \/>palm branches in their hands. God is seated on the throne and this passage echoes the vision<br \/>of the Prophet Daniel with myriads of angles ministering to Him: \u201cThrones were set up<br \/>and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head<br \/>as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging<br \/>stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; thousands upon thousands ministered to him<br \/>and myriads upon myriads attended him.\u201d (Dan 7: 9-10).<br \/>Throughout Revelation the throne of God and the throne of the Lamb are treated as one. In<br \/>his closing vision John writes of heaven: \u201cThe throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,<br \/>and his servants will worship him.\u201d (Rev 22: 3).<br \/>The palm branches were used in the celebration of a great military victory such as described<br \/>in I Maccabees: \u201cThe Jews entered the citadel with shouts of jubilation, waving palm<br \/>branches\u2026 because a great enemy of Israel has been destroyed.\u201d (1 Mac 13: 51).<br \/>\u201cThese are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed<br \/>their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The time of distress echoes<br \/>the prophesy of Daniel: \u201cOf the wise men, some shall fall, so that the rest may be tested,<br \/>refined and purified, until the end of time which is still appointed to come.\u201d (Dan 12: 35).<br \/>The purification of the robes reminds us of the ancient purification ritual instituted by Moses:<br \/>\u201cTaking some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar, Moses<br \/>sprinkled with it Aaron and his vestments, as well as his sons and their vestments, thus consecrating<br \/>both Aaron and his vestments and his sons and their vestments.\u201d (Lev 8: 30). It is<br \/>now the blood of the Lamb and the blood of the martyrs that is purifying. The paradox of<br \/>the Cross is revealed in the paradox of blood turning the robes pure white.<br \/>The death of the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep on Good Friday does<br \/>not end the metaphor of the Sheperd. Now the Lamb of God and God are one on the throne.<br \/>The Lamb has taken His place at the right hand of the Father. He continues to shepherd His<br \/>beloved from His throne in Heaven and in and through His Church here on earth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e6f3db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e6f3db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/john\/10?27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>John 10:27-30<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>While today&#8217;s passage continues the Good Shepherd theme of Chapter Ten, it occurs at a later<br \/>time. The occasion is the annual feast of the Dedication of the Temple also known as Hanukkah.<br \/>It is a celebration that was initiated in 164 B.C.E. Under the rule of Antiochus, the<br \/>people were forced to worship the pagan god Zeus Olympio. On the 15th of Chislev in 167<br \/>the temple was desecrated with a sacrifice to Zeus. This abomination continued for three<br \/>years. A Jewish revolt led by the priest Mattathias and his son Judas eventually led to their<br \/>emancipation from the Syrian occupation. The Holy of Holies was renovated and rededicated<br \/>to Yahweh on the 25th of Chislev in the year 164. Dedication evolved into an annual observance.<br \/>Chislev is the ninth month of the Jewish calendar and falls in November-<br \/>December within the modern-day Greco-Roman calendar. It was winter.<br \/>We are told that Jesus was walking in the portico of Solomon which is on the East side of<br \/>the temple. The portico of Solomon was the only area of the temple that remained intact after<br \/>the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. Jesus who will reveal Himself as the New<br \/>Temple of God is standing in the original temple area. The celebration of Dedication is a<br \/>celebration of God\u2019s presence. Now Jesus is standing in the temple and the people do not<br \/>recognize Him as God\u2019s presence.<br \/>The image of the Good Shepherd is a metaphor of the relationship between God and His beloved<br \/>children. The purpose of the Shepherd is the life and the care of the sheep. The Jewish<br \/>leaders and the faithful would have been keenly aware of the promise of Yahweh to<br \/>shepherd His people: \u201cI, Myself, will shepherd My people.\u201d (Ez 34: 15). Jesus states clearly<br \/>that He is the fulfillment of that promise of God when He reveals Himself as the Good Shepherd<br \/>and that He and the Father are one.<br \/>On the open range there were often numerous flocks and shepherds sharing grazing land. It<br \/>was imperative that the shepherd know his sheep. It was also important that the sheep recognize<br \/>the voice of their shepherd. The shepherd would often walk along calling his sheep.<br \/>Only his flock would follow, thus separating themselves from the other grazing sheep. It<br \/>was about a mutual relationship, and so the metaphor speaks powerfully of our need to come<br \/>to know the voice of the shepherd and to follow that voice. That voice will lead us through<br \/>the gates of Heaven.<br \/>God reveals Himself as the savior and we are safe in His hands. \u201cIt is I, I the Lord; there is<br \/>no savior but Me. It is I who foretold, I who saved; I made it known, not any strange god<br \/>among you; you are my witnesses, says the Lord. I am God, yes from eternity I am He;<br \/>there is none who can deliver from my hand; who can countermand what I do?\u201d (Is 43: 11-<br \/>13). \u201cBut the souls of the just are in the hands of God.\u201d (Wis 3: 1). \u201cI alone, am God, and<br \/>there is no god besides Me\u2026 and from My hand there is no rescue.\u201d (Deut 32: 39).<br \/>Our response to God our savior is to come to know, to hear, and to follow, in order to possess<br \/>eternal life. A believer hears (1:41; 3:8, 29; 4:41; 5:24, 28; 6:45; 8:38. 43; 10:3, 16) has<br \/>eternal life (3:15, 16, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54, 68) follows Jesus (1:37, 44;<br \/>8:12; 10:4, 5) and is not lost (3:16; 6:12, 27, 39; 10:10).<strong><em>1<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3e497b elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"c3e497b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a7a56c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a7a56c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>1. Harrington; Sacra Pagina Series-The Gospel of John; L.P.; Collegeville, MN; page 315.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f41bf79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f41bf79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflection<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d266f89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d266f89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This weekend we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. The Good Shepherd is my favorite<br \/>image of Jesus. When I made my first communion my grandmother gave me a beautiful<br \/>print of Jesus sitting on a rock with a little lamb in His arms and a flock of sheep attentively<br \/>gazing at him. The print still hangs in my bedroom at our family home. It is only a print,<br \/>and it has little value as the world might measure value, but to me it is priceless. It is an image<br \/>of Jesus that is indelibly fixed in my mind\u2019s eye. Even today when I pray, the image is<br \/>there. Many times in my life I have felt Jesus holding me in His arms as a lost sheep now<br \/>found.<br \/>The image of God as Shepherd became prominent in sacred scripture during the time of<br \/>the Exile. The Jewish leaders were carried off to Babylon in captivity and most of the people<br \/>were scattered all over the country as Jerusalem was destroyed. We have the promise of<br \/>God through the Prophet Ezekiel, \u201cI Myself will shepherd My people.\u201d (Ez 34:15). Jesus<br \/>proclaims in our Gospel this weekend, \u201cI AM the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays<br \/>down His life for the sheep.\u201d (Jn 10:11). The promise of God is fulfilled in Jesus.<br \/>As powerful as the image is, it is strangely missing from Christian art for the first four or<br \/>five centuries. Perhaps it is because it had such a negative image in the ancient world. A<br \/>shepherd would live on the open range with the sheep for months at a time. Consequently,<br \/>they would take on the smell of the sheep. When they came into the towns they were avoided<br \/>and shunned. Many shepherds for hire carried with them a reputation for being dishonest<br \/>and self-serving. In a word, there were a lot of bad shepherds.<br \/>Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He will lay down His life for the sheep. The purpose of the<br \/>shepherd is in fact the life of the sheep. The verse before our Gospel this weekend is one of<br \/>my favorites, John 10:10. Jesus says, \u201cI came so that you might have life and have life to the<br \/>fullest.\u201d How long would a sheep survive on the open range without the protection of a<br \/>shepherd? Not a shepherd for hire who would abandon the sheep at the first sign of a hungry<br \/>wolf, but a good shepherd who would stand in the face of death, and in fact die for the life of<br \/>His sheep.<br \/>The promise of God is in fact fulfilled in Jesus the Good Shepherd. The questions are:<br \/>Do we belong to His flock? Do we know and are we able to recognize the voice of the<br \/>Shepherd in our lives? Are we willing to follow that voice through the dark valleys of this<br \/>world? Are we willing to allow Him to guide us to green pastures and restful waters? Our<br \/>life, our eternal life depends on our answers to those questions.<br \/>I personally feel that we need a shepherd as never before in human history. We live in a<br \/>world darkened by evil, a world with many conflicting voices. There are many wolves in<br \/>sheep\u2019s clothing seeking to derail us from the fulfillment that comes from a relationship with<br \/>the Good Shepherd. I pray that each one of us will grow in our personal relationship with<br \/>Jesus, the Good Shepherd.<br \/>I would like to share with you the prayer that I chose for my ordination card 26 years ago.<br \/>\u201cMay the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by<br \/>the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus the Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you<br \/>may do His will. May He carry out in you what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ, to<br \/>whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.\u201d (Heb 13:20-21).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34bae4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34bae4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Personal Witness<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa924a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa924a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My maternal grandparents owned and operated a small dairy farm. They raised ten children<br \/>on that farm, my mother and her nine brothers. The farm was near to the home where I<br \/>was raised which allowed me to spend many days of my youth on the farm. My great uncle<br \/>also had a dairy farm that was closer to our family home, and I spent many hours working on<br \/>his farm. Consequently, the images that Jesus uses often relative to farming and agriculture<br \/>have always been particularly vivid for me.<br \/>As a young child I would often follow my grandfather around the farm, and I observed<br \/>him closely. One day as it was time for the evening milking, grandpa asked me if I would<br \/>call the cows. I was about 6 or 7 years old. I stood exactly where he always stood and bellowed<br \/>his exact chant which I had come to know. The cows continued grazing and did not<br \/>budge. After about ten long minutes I was losing my voice. Grandpa came out, with a big<br \/>grin on his face, and with one loud call with his deep voice the cows began their way to the<br \/>barn. They had come to know his voice and they knew that oats were waiting for them and<br \/>so they responded.<br \/>My job that evening was to ration out oats to each of the cows in their stalls as grandpa<br \/>worked on the other end. They all received a short ration of grain and hay that evening as I<br \/>retaliated for their inattention to my calls.<br \/>One day in early spring the grass was starting to green near the riverbank. As this was the<br \/>first of the green grass the cows were happily grazing. I was with my grandpa as we led<br \/>them to the river. As they were struggling for position a newborn calf accidentally was<br \/>nudged into the river. The river was swift and cold, ice was breaking up and floating down<br \/>steam. Grandpa instinctively ran down the riverbank and plunged in ahead of the drowning<br \/>frighted calf. He waded waist deep in the freezing water to save the little newborn. He<br \/>wrapped the calf in his coat, and we started the mile walk to the barn. When we arrived, he<br \/>wrapped the little calf in an old blanket and grandpa gave me a bottle of milk and had me<br \/>feed the young calf.<br \/>Later as we went back to the farmhouse, I remember my grandmother chastising him, urging<br \/>him to get out of his wet clothes. She reminded him how foolish he was to risk his own<br \/>life, the chance of catching pneumonia, to save one little calf.<br \/>I am certain that grandpa did not think that one through. He reacted and did what came<br \/>natural to him, protecting the life of his cows. Without his care, the defenseless young calf<br \/>could not have survived very long. Like sheep, cows need a shepherd to protect them from<br \/>predators, to lead them to green pastures to eat and to restful waters to drink. Their lives depended<br \/>on the care of their shepherd. The shepherd in turn has one purpose, the life of his<br \/>flock.<br \/>I will always cherish the memories of my grandfather on the farm and the lessons learned<br \/>about life and about God. For the gift of these experiences, I am eternally grateful.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f44b3c8 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f44b3c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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Reflections<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce78e8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ce78e8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4f3155 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e4f3155\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div 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data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;show_arrows&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pagination&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;space_between&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-main-swiper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Slides\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tI first encountered Fr. Glenn\u2019s preaching on Ash Wednesday, 2006.\u00a0 It only took one homily, and my family and I realized that Fr. Glenn has a very special gift.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn is clearly very spiritual, and that comes through in all of his homilies and reflections.\u00a0 His spirituality is not aloof, or inaccessible.\u00a0 His holiness is authentic, grounded, accessible and on fire.\u00a0 And, that fire is shared, such that the listener also becomes on fire, and inspired to go deeper with Scripture, with God and with our neighbor.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn has inspired me to engage at the deepest level and to work to find my spiritual path, always encouraging, mentoring, coaching.\u00a0 I would strongly encourage anyone who can to attend one of his Masses, homilies, or podcasts.\u00a0 Catch the fire of the Holy Spirit working through Fr. Glenn!!!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"John J Hern Jr.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">John J Hern Jr.<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFr. Glenn has many charisms, which he displays by his compassion, theological intelligence, spirituality, and love of God.  His compassion is continually displayed when he visits the sick of the parish. His manner of prayer and conversation is definitively a gift from God.  His spirituality is very evident when he preaches. His homilies are instructive, encouraging and centered on God\u2019s infinite love for each of us. Fr. Glenn is a teacher, a mentor, and a wonderful listener who encourages those around him to follow Jesus more closely. He is Spirit filled, Spirit led and Spirit giving!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"Deacon Scott &amp; Claudia Jamieson\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">Deacon Scott & Claudia Jamieson<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Fourth Sunday of Easter\u2014Year C Reading I Acts 13:14, 43-52Paul and Barnabas continued on from Pergaand reached Antioch in Pisidia.On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaismfollowed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to themand urged them to remain faithful to the grace of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunday-readings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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