SPIRITUAL COMMUNION – Fourth Sunday in EASTER - April 25, 2021

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

Fourth Sunday in EASTER

April 25, 2021

Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

People: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Celebrant: COLLECT

O God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd of your people: Grant that, when we hear his voice, we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

THE LESSONS

FIRST LESSON: A Reading from Acts 4:32-37

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

The Word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; *

therefore I can lack nothing.

2 He shall feed me in green pastures *

and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

3 He shall refresh my soul *

and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, * for you

are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.

5 You shall prepare a table before me, in the presence of those who trouble me; * you have

anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

SECOND LESSON: A Reading from 1 John 3:1-10

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

The Word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL: The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John 10:11-16

Response: Glory to you Lord Christ

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Response: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Celebrant: Homily

Celebrant: Let us confess our faith in the words of the Apostle’s Creed

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Celebrant: PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

In your own words, pray for your own needs, for those on your heart, for the peace of

the world, and for the Church.

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Celebrant: ACT OF CONTRITION

Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God:

O GOD, We are VERY SORRY that we have sinned against you and for all the wrongs we have done and the good we have not done.

Take a moment in silence to share your confession to God with these words in your heart:

Especially I confess_______________________________.

Everyone: Forgive us for Jesus' sake, and grant us strength and wisdom to amend our

lives. Amen.

Everyone:

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen

Everyone:

Dear Jesus, we believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. We love you above all things, and we desire to possess you within our souls. And since we cannot now receive you sacramentally, we beseech you to come spiritually into our hearts. We unite ourselves to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around every altar of your Church, and we embrace you with all the affections of our souls. Never permit us to be separated from you.  Amen.

Priest’s Blessing:

AND MAY THE PEACE OF GOD, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you now and always, Amen.

ANIMA CHRISTI

SOUL of Christ, sanctify me Body of Christ, save me Blood of Christ, inebriate me Water from the side of Christ, wash me Passion of Christ, strengthen me O good Jesus, hear me Within Thy wounds, hide me Separated from Thee let me never be From the malignant enemy, defend me At the hour of death, call me To come to Thee, bid me That I may praise Thee in the company Of Thy Saints for all eternity. Amen.

DISCUSSION THEMES to PONDER

1. ACTS 4:32-37

In today’s Acts Reading, we read that Christians “had everything in common” and that “there was not a needy person among them”. How do we (and can we) emulate these in our communities today?

2. PSALM 23

In Psalm 23, we pray “your rod and your staff comfort me”. The rod fights off enemies, the staff gives guidance, and “comfort” means both strengthening and consoling. How have you experienced any of these?

3. GOSPEL: John 10:11-18

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also and they will hear my voice”. How do you understand these “other sheep”?