Abundant Life
Fourth Sunday of Easter (A)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
John 10:1-10 - Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Abundant life.
That is what Jesus has come to give. Take a moment to think of all the people we know whose lives we would describe as “abundant” (not “exciting”, but “full” or “rich” or “satisfied”). Can we think of a lot of people...or only a few? The fact is, there are many, many people who desperately want abundant life but don’t have it. They still are not satisfied after years of searching for pleasure, security, wealth, and comfort. They live for their weekends, breaks, and vacations. They feel they always spend the best part of their energy on their job. They want to have deep relationships with God, their spouse, and their children, but they don’t know how. Their lives lack true abundance.
Jesus wants them, and us, to be fulfilled, satisfied, and deeply happy. He comes to give us abundant life. It is not a hard formula. Jesus + Our Lives = Abundance. We won’t find abundant life in vacations, pleasure, security, wealth, or comfort. There is only one way for a life to be abundant. It is by living with, and in, Jesus. It is by living with the Sacraments, prayer, and virtue. It is by living intentionally, and prioritizing one’s vocation (e.g., Marriage and Family). But many Catholics have this abundant life in Jesus, and they wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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