Sunday, April 17, 2005
4th Sunday of Easter

1st Reading: Acts 2:14,36-41
Called to follow Christ

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: 1st Peter 2:20-25
Saved by our shepherd

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
Called to follow our shepherd

Jesus said, "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, 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

DURING the Easter season we listen to Acts and hear sermons, like Peter's today and how the early Church grew, nurtured on the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Peter proclaims that God has made Jesus who they crucified Lord and Christ! And the people are deeply troubled, are converted and baptized, receiving the Spirit and saved from this crooked generation. Jesus preaches that he himself is the gate of the sheepfold that opens to let the sheep enter in and closes in protection and care. Jesus has come for one reason: that we might have life and life in all its fullness. Anyone else, everyone else is a robber and a thief. Do we hear the voice of the keeper of the sheep or do we listen to voices all around us? Do we belong to God alone or do we follow after others? Are we nurtured on the Word of God and the Spirit as the early Church matured?

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