Photo was taken near Kealkil, West Cork (Irl)

The flowering currant has been in flower for the past few weeks. I
had a picture up recently (April 8th), taken during the rain and thankfully I can say today’s picture was taken in lovely sunshine!!

Thought on Sunday – April – 21/04/2013

Jesus said: The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;
I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life;
they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me.
The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,
and no one can steal from the Father. The Father and I are one. ~John 10:27-30

The following reflection is by Triona Doherty

When people fall in love they often talk of meeting someone with whom they can ‘be themselves’, who loves them as they are – imperfections, eccentricities and all. Likewise when we are with good friends, we can be confident that we are accepted and appreciated as we are; in fact the best relationships are those which inspire us to look beyond ourselves, to develop our talents and to aim ever higher.

Short and sweet as it is, there is something very comforting about today’s Gospel reading. Today is known as Good Shepherd Sunday, when we are reminded of the strong bond and relationship Jesus has with us, his flock. ‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me,’ says Jesus. He knows who we are, and he also knows what we are capable of. The First Reading today reminds us that we are called to be ‘a light for the nations’. We all have our gifts, our strengths and our special calling, and our own unique role to play.