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Daily Readings
Weekly reading
Readings for the week of April 26, 2026
- Sunday: Acts 2:14a, 36-41 / Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 / 1 Pt 2:20b-25 / Jn 10:1-10
- Monday: Acts 11:1-18 / Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4 / Jn 10:11-18 (second choice)
- Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26 / Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 / Jn 10:22-30
- Wednesday: Acts 12:24-13:5a / Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8 / Jn 12:44-50
- Thursday: Acts 13:13-25 / Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27 / Jn 13:16-20
- Friday: Acts 13:26-33 / Ps 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab / Jn 14:1-6
- Saturday: Acts 13:44-52 / Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 / Jn 14:7-14
- Next Sunday: Acts 6:1-7 / Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 / 1 Pt 2:4-9 / Jn 14:1-12
Pastor Message and Prayer
4/26
"One flock, one Shepherd"
Read John, chapter 10, verses 1 to 18
Optional reading: Psalm 23 and Ezekiel, chapter 34
The image of Jesus as "the good Shepherd" is one of the richest and most comforting of the New Testament. No wonder that is was very popular amoung Christians in the early Church, to the point of being the most common representation of Jesus int he Roman Catacombs. And who, among us, has never been touched or comforted by the opening words of Psalm 23, which provide the natural background to Jesus' claim to be "the Good Shepherd": The Lord is my Shepherd. There is nothing I shall want" (Psalm 23:1)?
"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
John 10:101
Shepherds, sheep, and shepherding were common imagery in Ancient Near East, and were often applied to political rulers. The prophet Ezekiel uses the same imagery to protest against the carlessness of Judah's leaders just before the Exile (Ezekiel 34), as he announces that God will shepherd his own people: "I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them...." (Ezekiel 34:12). Now Jesus takes over as he accepts from his Father (verse 15) this mission to gather God's people into one flock: "I have other sheep that do no belong to this fold. I must bring them also... So there will be one flock, one shepherd"(verse 16).
The imagery used by Jesus here is in keeping with the sense of comfort and hope we find both in Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34. But it goes far beyond, as it also takes us to the very heart of Jesus' paschal mystery. Jesus is prepared to go to th extreme of love we care for his sheep: "And I lay down my life for my sheep...that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (verse 15 and 10).
Do I share Jesus' concern about the unity of God's people?
Prayer Starter:
Jesus, you are the good Shepherd who laid down your life that we might live. Forget not your flock and these "other sheep" that you came to gather to yourself into one flock.
Fr. Joachim
St. Mary Mass Times
Saturday 6:00pm
Sunday 8:30am
Daily Mass Times
Wednesday 8:30am
Wednesday: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 9am-9:30am
Friday 8:30am
First Friday 8:30am Healing Mass and Adoration
Confession Times
Saturday from 5:30-5:50 or
by appointment by calling the Rectory at 815-858-3422
St. Mary Office Hours
Wednesday 8:30 am- 3:30 p.m.. by appointment
Thursday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
