PRIEST: Jesus calls himself the Gate of the Sheepfold – as the Flock of Christ we can go freely into God’s presence through Him. He is the Good Shepherd who calls to us to listen to His voice and follow Him wherever He leads. He also lays down his life for his sheep – for us. We discover our fulness of life in him, as we live our own particular vocation, Indeed we all share the vocation to live for others, to be life-bearers, to be witnesses to the glorious truth of Christ. We now pause to examine how well we have answered our special vocation.
READER: For not making space in our busy lives and noisy hearts
to listen to the voice of the Shepherd
LORD HAVE MERCY…
For listening to the voices of ambition and selfishness,
the voices of security and safe-options,
and not following the Shepherd wherever he leads us
CHRIST HAVE MERCY…
When we leave the work of serving our community to others,
and do not play our part in building the Church or the Kingdom –
for not being a shepherd to each other
LORD HAVE MERCY…
PRIEST: May the God who calls us into life, forgive us;
May our Redeemer and Shepherd, Jesus, free us with his mercy;
May the Holy Spirit empower us to give of ourselves with generosity
and so find everlasting life…
AMEN!