Sunday, April 21, 2002
4th Sunday of Easter
1st Reading: Acts 2:14, 36-41
On Pentecost day, 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 three thousand persons were added
to their number that day.
2nd Reading: 1 P 2:20-25
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 burdened with our sins 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: Jn 10:1-10
Jesus
said, "Tuly, 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, 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."
Commentary
Not every spiritual guide is to be trusted. There is money in religion. And status, influence, connections. Religion attracts every kind of crank and neurotic, especially those who like the sound of their own voice. Would-be shepherds can be robbers. Genuine shepherds enter by the gate, and Jesus is the gate. The shepherds we can trust are those who do not return insult for insult (second reading) who suffer for their flock, carry the burdens of the weak, who have the spirit of the beatitudes - poor, aware of suffering, gentle, thirsty for justice, merciful, pure of heart, do not shrink from persecution in the cause of right, while maintaining a joyful and non-vindictive spirit. Such as these witness to Jesus - the way, the truth and the life.