May 3, 2020: Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A
The Communion antiphon in the Roman Missal takes as its starting point John 10:11, which does not actually occur in this Sunday’s Gospel pericope (John 10:1-10). The Collegeville Composers devised an antiphon which also incorporates elements from John 10:7 and 9 (“I am the gate [for the sheep]”) as well as Revelation 5:12 (“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain”).
The one who lays down his life for the sheep also feeds those sheep with the bread of his life and himself is the gateway to eternal life.
The choir may sing a two-part descant to the words: “Jesus, Shepherd, Jesus, Savior, you lay down your life, Jesus the Lamb who was slain.”
Following the suggested options in the Missal, the psalm verses are selected from Ps 78, with additional appropriate verses from Ps 80, both using images of God as the shepherd of his people.
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