Today is the fourth Sunday of Easter usually called Good Shepherd Sunday because the gospel for this Sunday always focuses on Jesus as a shepherd. It is also the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations and it is Mother’s Day. In his Message for the 2025 World Day of Vocations Pope Francis chose the theme, Pilgrims of Hope: The Gift of Life. In this message, issued March 19, 2025, the Holy Father reminds us that, “A vocation is a precious gift that God sows in our heart, a call to leave ourselves behind and embark on a journey of love and service. Every vocation in the Church, whether lay, ordained or consecrated, is a sign of the hope that God has for this world and for each of his children.”
We all want good shepherds. Our prayers should be fervent when we pray for vocations in our parish, our Archdiocese, our Country and our world. Prayer is one of the most powerful ways to support vocations. When we pray for vocations, we lift up to our Father those men and women whom He is calling in a very special way.
As we pray for vocations to consecrated life, we must remember that all of us are called by God. Through our baptism we are called to be Good Shepherds. Parents are called to be good shepherds for their children – Christian formation begins at home. Teachers are called to be Good Shepherds for their students – Christian formation is strengthened by the examples set by educators in our schools. Business people are called to be Good Shepherds for their workers - Christian formation must be sustained in our everyday lives. Whatever our life situation is, we are called to be Good Shepherds and signs of hope founded in faith.
And again, Pope Francis reminds us that “Every vocation, once perceived in the depths of the heart, gives rise to an impulse to love and service, as an expression of hope and charity, rather than a means of self-promotion. Vocation and hope go together in God’s plan for the happiness of each man and woman, all of whom are called by name to give their lives for others. Many young people seek to know the path God is calling them to take. Some find, often to their surprise, that they are called to the priesthood or to the consecrated life. Others discover the beauty of the call to marriage and family life, to the pursuit of the common good and to a life of witness to the faith among their friends and acquaintances.”
Today in a special way we honor the vocation of motherhood. On this day we celebrate our mothers. We thank them for nurturing us and for loving us. and we give thanks for our mothers who made our lives possible.
Gracious God,
We thank you for adopting us into your family
through the miracle of your grace,
and for calling us to be brothers and sisters to each other.
Today, loving God, we pray for our mothers:
Who cared for us when we were helpless
Who comforted us when we were hurt.
Whose love and care we often took for granted.
Today we pray for:
Those who are grieving the loss of their mother,
Those who never knew their biological mother,
and now yearn for her
Those who have experienced the wonder of an adopted mother's love,
The families separated by war or conflict.
Lord, give them special blessings.
Keep us united with you and with each other,
so that we can be and become all that we are meant to be.
Amen.
