Gospel: April 26, 2026
April 26, 2026 (Sunday)
4th Sunday of Easter
(Good Shepherd Sunday)
Psalter: Week 4 (White)
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 (1)
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
1st Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all foreigners now staying in Jerusalem, listen to what I have to say. Let Israel, then, know for sure, that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus, whom you crucified.”
When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, brothers?” Peter answered: “Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then, you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar, whom our God may call.” With many other words Peter gave the message; and appealed to them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So, those who accepted his word were baptized; some 3,000 persons were added to their number that day.
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:20b-25
What merit would there be in taking a beating, when you have done wrong? But if you endure punishment when you have done well, that is a grace before God. This is your calling: remember Christ, who suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in his way. He did no wrong and there was no deceit in his mouth. He did not return insult, for insult, and, when suffering, he did not curse, but put himself in the hands of God, who judges justly. He went to the cross, bearing our sins on his own body, on the cross, so that we might die to sin, and live an upright life. For, by his wounds, you have been healed. You were like stray sheep, but you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Gospel: John 10:1-10
Truly, I say to you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the shepherd of the sheep enters by the gate. The keeper opens the gate to him and the sheep hear his voice; he calls each of his sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but rather they will run away from him, because they don’t recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this comparison, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, I am the gate of the sheep. All who came were thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not hear them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved; he will go in and out freely and find food. The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness.
Lectio Divina:
He leads his flock to good pasture.
Read: On the day of Pentecost, Peter addressed the crowd gathered in Jerusalem to repent and be baptized to be saved. Like a shepherd, he and the Eleven gathered before the Lord those who believed in him. We have the same Peter in the second reading, exhorting the believers that, like stray sheep, they have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls. And Jesus, in the gospel, offers himself as the good shepherd of his flock.
Reflect: Jesus sets himself as the model shepherd, presenting to us the three qualities of a good shepherd. First, he knows his sheep. His dedication to us is as close as a shepherd is to his sheep. He knows each one of us in a profoundly personal way. Secondly, he defends his sheep. He stresses that he never deserts us and is ready to lay down his life for us. Should we stray from the flock, Jesus would leave the 99 sheep and go and search for us. Lastly, he leads his flock to good pasture. Jesus calls us to follow him in the path of goodness and righteousness. He accompanies us and is always present to serve us in any way. He came not only to lead us to a good pasture but so that we might have life in all its fullness.
Pray: Lord, make me your co-shepherd to my brothers and sisters.
Act: Help a needy friend today.
