BRIDGEPORT— “Trust is essential in the spiritual life,” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano during the live-streamed celebration of Mass on Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter.
Reflecting on the Gospel of John (10:1-10), “I am the gate for the Sheep,” the bishop said, “There is in fact at least one quality that sheep have that is profoundly important in the life of faith for you and me that deems it to be worthy for each of us to be a sheep for the Good Shepherd. That is the quality of trust.”
Sheep come to know the voice of the one who calls them, feed them and protects them, he said in his homily from the Catholic Center chapel. The solo flute accompaniment was provided by Jane Lambert.
“Trust allows us to open our hearts and minds before us,” the bishop said, adding that we only give the most intimate part of our lives to those we trust, because we know they will love us to the end.
The bishop that believers have been given “the gift of outflowing grace of the Good Shepherd, but we can’t accept them unless we trust him. That is what Christ who has risen from the dead wants to give us. He wants us to overflow with his love, mercy, forgiveness and kindness, but these gifts can only be accepted by an open heart.”
As Catholics we are challenged to put our needs before Christ and to trust in his mercy. “If we learn to trust even in the most difficult of circumstances, the Lord means what he says, “that we may have life and have it more abundantly.”
In the Prayer of the Faithful, the bishop prayed for Pope Francis and the leaders of the Church that “they may be men of courageous witness and trustful spirit to lead us during this time of great challenge.”
He also prayed for the sick and all those suffering from Coronavirus, and that those who care of them “remain safe and that the suffering find healing.”
In a special way, the bishop also asked that we pray for all those who will die today, “sometimes dying alone, that Christ’s presence, mercy and love bring them consolation and forgiveness.”
While the bishop has temporarily suspended the celebration of Holy Mass in the presence of the lay faithful, Bishop Caggiano and our priests are all still celebrating Mass every day. In many cases, these Masses are broadcast live or recorded and sent out to the faithful. You can find a complete list of our parishes streaming Mass below.
To learn more about live-streamed Masses, click this link: or Visit the YouTube Mass Playlist.
