Un-Quiet Word for Today, Fourth Sunday of Easter
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"Whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."
John 10:2-3
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Introduction to the Liturgy of the Day
As sheep willingly follow their own shepherd, whose voice they recognize and who calls them by name, we willingly follow the Lord Jesus, for we know his voice and he calls us each by name. Gathered together on this Good Shepherd Sunday, let us pray that we become more attuned to his voice so that we may more effectively continue his mission in the world.Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word
Peter echoes the words of John the Baptist in the first reading—“Repent and be baptized”—though he can also tell the people that they will receive the Holy Spirit. In his letter, he encourages us to look to Christ as an example when we suffer for doing what is right and good. In the Gospel, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, describes himself as the gate through which we can find life abundant and eternal. Let us look to the Lord as our shepherd, who provides all that we shall need, all that we shall want.Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Brothers and sisters, in holy remembrance, we now pray in thanksgiving for the wonders of salvation.Reflection
- Peter’s call to the crowd in Jerusalem is the same as Jesus’ when he emerged from the desert, as well as John the Baptist’s before him: “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). This is the crowd’s opportunity. The people did not listen to John or to Jesus himself. Both of them have been put to death. So now it is Peter and the apostles making this plea. But Peter is able to offer more than John or even Jesus did. He explicitly tells them, “You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (2:38). The Holy Spirit, who had just come down upon the apostles, will come down upon all who are baptized in God’s name—in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Though this passage likely recounts events that happened over a period of time, the promise of the Holy Spirit led to thousands of converts willing to repent and be baptized.
- The first reading ends with the line: “about three thousand persons were added that day” (Acts 2:41). That’s quite a flock. A flock that large needs a shepherd. Not just a shepherd, but the Good Shepherd, a shepherd who will guide us in right paths, who will give us repose in verdant pastures and courage in dark valleys, a shepherd who will lead us to “have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The Good Shepherd will satisfy our every need, even needs we do not realize we have.
- In the part of this lesson that makes up today’s Gospel, Jesus describes himself as the gate to the sheepfold. The gate serves two purposes. Closed, it protects the sheep in the sheepfold from robbers and predators; open, it allows the sheep to come and go in response to the sound of their shepherd’s voice. Imagine that instead of an iron or wooden gate at the opening of the sheepfold, there is only Jesus. Jesus is stronger than any gate, better able to protect the sheep from harm. And Jesus is more forgiving and loving than any gate, welcoming the lost and caring for the hurting.
Question of the Week
How can I be that gate, in imitation of Jesus? How do I protect others from danger or trauma and how do I comfort those who are lost or in pain?
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All About the Mass
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Readings of the Mass
LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of April 30th, 2023, Fourth Sunday of Easter
SELECT HERE for the Readings of April 30th, 2023, Fourth Sunday of Easter
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Reflections
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Our Catholic Community News
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Jesus Christ invites us to return to the source and summit of our faith: his Real Presence in the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States....DISCOVER MORERead More
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