On this Sunday, we are asked to reflect on our vocation in life. All vocations come from God. God is the source of all that we are and all that we hope to be. Like a gentle shepherd, God invites us to journey with him. On this 4th Sunday of Easter, as reflect on Jesus the Good Shepherd, we must ask ourselves how have we allowed the Lord to direct our lives so that all we do will give God the glory. The concern of a good shepherd is to guide and protect. These actions of Jesus, the good shepherd are based upon the relationship that has been developed with us. The good shepherd knows us, acts out of love on our behalf, is always present with us, and keeps us safe.

What Jesus does for us is not just part of his job but it is love-in-action. This love, based on Jesus’ relationship with his father is shared with us who truly believe that God can make a way out of no-way.  He prepares a table before us in the sight of our enemies and calls us blessed. Psalm 23 tells us, “and surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.  I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

The Good Shepherd makes sacrifices for his flock. One of the dynamics of family life is that Parents make sacrifices for their children acting out of love and not an obligation. As with Shepherds and sheep, God knows our needs before they ever reach our lips. God anticipates our needs and goes before us to prepare the way. Who has helped shepherd us in our lives and how have we helped to shepherd others along the way?

I heard a phrase this week that said, “God will not give us more than we can bear. He may bend us but we will not break.” Some of us may feel that God giving us too much and bending us too much. It is in the moments of “bending” that our faith is tested. We must trust in the “unchanging hand” of God to see us through. The same God who brought us through so much in our lives will bring us through this moment as well.  The reality is that the journey that we travel in this life teaches us how to live the life of faith.

Tomorrow is not promised to us. We must live in the present moment.  Maybe this moment is filled with pain, dashed hopes, broken relationships, and unrealized dreams. We may not want to deal with this situation. God is with us! God knows your prayers. He has counted your tears. All you have to do is just call him up and tell him what you want.

Prayer is a powerful gift that we must use when reflecting on our vocation and where God is leading us.  Amid this Coronavirus pandemic, God stills calls us to deepen our relationship with him. God’s grace will keep us strong and give us reason to say, “Thank you Lord for that all you have done for me.”  My grandmother often said, “If you are going to pray-don’t worry. If you are going to worry-don’t pray.” Trust God and know that God will never abandon us.