‍Acts 2:14. 36-41

Ps 22:1-6

1 Peter 2:20-25

John 10:1-10

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Background:  the Roman Missal, revised by the Second Vatican Council, called all the Sundays of Eastertime, not “Sundays after Easter”, but “Sundays of Easter“. This appears a very small change from what went before, but is very meaningful. Each of the successive Sundays is a celebration of the solemnity of Easter: this is the underlying unity of the Easter season. Each day of this season is said to be celebrated “as one feast day, or better as one 'great Sunday'“. The winding path of the liturgy is a matter for rejoicing. Its many detours present the same mystery from different points of view, so that one may contemplate its astounding richness and its countless implications! ('Days of the Lord.' The Liturgical Press).  So in ‘unpacking' the readings for this weekend, remember: same message but different angle!

Acts of the Apostles:  in Peter's discourses, the first announcements of the resurrection are often embellished by citations from the psalms. It is a way of saying that the event has fulfilled prophetic oracles, and that Jesus had to suffer the passion in order to enter into glory: Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms have said so!  Peter addresses his audience directly, almost aggressively! He wants his hearers to feel personally concerned with the message, and not remain neutral!  He seems successful in this, because his audience does not think of itself as being unjustly accused. Rather they were “cut to the heart“ and ask Peter and the other apostles what to do! The response: “repent and be baptised“. ‘Repentance’ of course, is not a doleful moping over sin. It is a change of life, a complete change of scales of values. The Greek word means a changed mind-set. The corresponding Hebrew word means turning round and going in the opposite direction. It is a serious business, not to be undertaken lightly.

Instead of simply feeling guilty, which often causes one just to focus on ones sins, conversion opens to forgiveness and the freedom that comes from it.

This call to conversion always accompanies the proclamation of the Good News!  

1 Peter: When they speak to fellow believers, the apostles usually remind the baptised of their profession of faith, and exhort them to follow in the footsteps of the risen Christ. This means to live the life opened to them by Christ’s Passover which they received in baptism. Obviously, these letters were written to respond to the needs of a specific community. Nevertheless, they have a value for us today.

For Peter, Jesus is the Suffering Servant spoken of by Isaiah (look up Isaiah 53:3-10 and see the parallels). Peter is inviting his hearers, to be patient when suffering for doing what is right and good. For him, to do so is a grace before God. They have been called to live like this, because Christ did so for their sakes, leaving them an example. They should follow in his footsteps!

The Christian is called to remain united with God whatever the cost, and, in so doing, also finds joy in him.

John:  scripture scholars believe that this passage on the “Good Shepherd” was originally addressed to the Pharisees, about the necessity of going to God through Jesus.  For the followers of Jesus, and therefore for us, this passage is for us to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and because of this we have Life in his name.

Jesus is the legitimate Shepherd of the flock. He does not break into the sheepfold, rather the gatekeeper opens the gate for him. The sheep hear his voice and without hesitation follow him out. Sheep, do not follow a stranger!

Jesus also says that he enters the sheepfold to lead out all the sheep. Maybe there is a connection to Exodus, and Moses leading out the people into the promised land. (cf: John9:29: 4 Lent: Man born blind). 

The images used “the Shepherd“ and “the gate“ seems to mix images. Nevertheless there is a continuity of ideas.  John seems to be implying that Jesus is the Shepherd sent by God – like Moses – to lead out his sheep. But he is also the “gate” and the only sure way out of, or into, the sheepfold. Whoever before or after him pretends to fill this role is an impostor, a thief, disguised as the Shepherd.  

Jesus has passed the gate of death to enter into glory! “To proclaim his resurrection is to recognise that he is the guide in whose footsteps we must follow in order to have life, and to have it more fully. He marches at the head of the ransomed people, leading them on the road of their paschal exodus”. (Days of the Lord; The Liturgical Year; Volume 3). 

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The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday; Christ Jesus being the Good Shepherd and we the sheep of his pasture. It is no surprise then to find that Psalm 22(23) is the appointed responsorial psalm for the Sunday Mass. It begins with well-known words: The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

But we should not stop there. The psalm has been chosen for its primitive association with the rite of baptismal initiation a tthe Solemnity of Easter, and is bursting with spiritual significance.

The ancient Church taught this psalm to catechumens in the course of Lent and the Church Fathers instructed them that Christ the Good Shepherd leads his docile sheep to the fresh and green pastures of spiritual teaching. He guides them along the right path for the sake of his name.

When Easter came the catechumens were baptized during the Easter Vigil. They were plunged into the font as into Christ's death, thus walking in the valley of the shadow of death, because baptism is a sign, a likeness of death, and not the stern reality.

When the newly enlightened emerged from the waters their head was anointed with oil, the oil of gladness which is the Holy Spirit, in the sacrament of Confirmation.

They were then led in procession from the baptistery to the church where a table had been prepared before them,where an overflowing cup awaited them. Here the Eucharist is clearly signified, where the rite of Christian initiation is completed. And now the new Christians may sing: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life thanks to the Good Shepherd.

Bidding Prayers

Let us pray for Leo our pope, that in his words and in his works, in all that he is and says and does, he may prove to be a shepherd after the pattern of the Good Shepherd himself.

Let us pray for vocations to the priesthood, that Lord may raise up shepherds for his flock filled with his own wisdom and compassion.

Let us pray for the faithful departed, that having been buried with Christ in baptism, they may rise to fullness of life in him.

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These hymns are suggested from the Laudate Hymnbook:

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Love Divine (774 to 813)

and

Trust/Hope/Guidance (947-973)

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