Today, we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter, traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. It is a day when we reflect on Jesus as our Good Shepherd and our disposition as the sheep under His care. We are called to hear the voice of Jesus and follow Him as He has come that we may have life and have it to the full.

While this is the ultimate goal, the reality is that we all too often choose to listen to other voices which are louder and more persistent. These voices promise a life of happiness and satisfaction chasing material wealth and career success. While those are not problematic in of themselves, the truth is that only the voice of Christ can lead us through the challenges in life and help us see ourselves as who we really are: sinners who are loved. This message in the first reading underscores the invitation of Peter to the crowd to repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Subsequently in his letter, Peter writes that we had gone astray but now we have returned to the shepherd and guardian of our souls.

Today is also Vocation Sunday, where we pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. At the same time, we also pray for priests and religious who are in crisis. They experience loneliness, bewilderment, fatigue, and confusion. May they find the necessary support and accompaniment to sustain their vocation.