Fourth Sunday of Easter

Dear brothers and sisters, on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Universal Church celebrates the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This Vocations Sunday was established by Pope Paul VI in 1963 (during the early sessions of the Second Vatican Council). It was prompted by concerns over the declining number of young men entering seminaries. When we look at the latest data from L’Osservatore Romano (2023), we see that two continents experiencing a significant decline in the number of priests were Europe (- 3,632) and America (- 963). Therefore, on this special Sunday, we are all invited to pray for vocations so that God may send out “labourers into His harvest.” Additionally, today we are also invited to pray for those already called (the ordained and religious) that they may be increasingly faithful and zealous in serving the Church.
Is the call to serve the Church only for the ordained and consecrated life? Pope Francis, in his message for the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations, says that all Christians are called to embrace our God-given vocation to serve Him in the world, whether through consecrated life, priesthood, marriage, or even as a single person. Both laypeople and those in consecrated life are called to become “men and women of hope,” bearing the Gospel message of hope and peace amid countless crises. The question for us is: “What concrete steps can we take to respond to this call?” Jesus Himself, in today’s Gospel, declares Himself as the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep. Are we willing to emulate His sacrifice in the context of our lives today? Are we willing to offer ourselves, our time, our energy, and our talents and abilities for the growth of our Church? Remember, the Lord is calling you, and He is waiting for your “yes” in response!
Bro. Henri Suharyono SCJ