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Fourth Sunday of Easter Mass Readings
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First Reading: Acts 2:14A, 36-41
Responsorial: Psalm 23: 1-3A, 3B-6
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:20B-25
Gospel: John 10:1-10
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050320.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Happy Easter! I hope this podcast finds you in good health on this Fourth Sunday of Easter. It is exciting to hear that various businesses and organizations will begin to slowly reopen. I know there are many people who are eager to get back to work. I encourage everyone to pray for that everything goes well and that there is no resurgence of the virus.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the gate,” (John 10:9). He tells us that the only way in is through the gate – through Jesus. Now that makes sense, doesn’t it? We Christians believe that the path to salvation is through Christ Jesus.
One of the fascinating things about this time of sheltering at home is that we’ve had fewer outside distractions. Most of us can’t go the movies or concerts or out to eat or to pubs or to go see a game. But I realize of course that we aren’t all living like monks – especially with a house or flat filled with our families or roommates. Instead of this being downtime, for many of us we’ve just downshifted a bit.
But hopefully you’ve given yourself some time to think about your life – about where God is calling you. Are you where you imagined you’d be – where you thought God was calling you to be? If not, why? What kind of things have distracted you from achieving your goals?
You know, there are many times in my life – more than I’d care to admit – when I feel like I’m waking up from a dream. I look back and I’m floored by how much time slipped away. Hadn’t I told myself I was going to do this or accomplish that years ago? Where did the time go?
How many things distract us in life? Oh sure, on the extremes it could be a life of debauchery, but I think there are many “ordinary” time-suckers around us, like online gaming or social media apps. Of course, there’s television or I guess these days it’s binge-watching streamed content. Whatever it is for you, have you ever been surprised by how much time you lost to something like this?
Do any of those things – those time suckers – help you feel more alive, that is, do any of them help you feel like you’re drawing closer to God?
The idea that Jesus is the gate – the path to salvation resonates – or I hope it resonates – with all Christians. But isn’t it funny how many distractions – the busyness of our lives has maybe distracted us from being the person God made us to be – distracted us from becoming the best version of ourselves?
I think these distractions are not only obstacles, but they are actually alternative gates that we go through – either deliberately or having been tricked into. These gates offer some form of pleasure, happiness, joy, or peace. Indeed, many of us are so convinced that we are on the right path that we are stunned or frustrated because we aren’t at peace. We’re always tired or restless or filled with angst.
My brothers and sisters, those feelings which are often associated with the “midlife crisis” are a telltale sign of spiritual desolation. But it’s not too late! Christ offers us the hope of true spiritual consolation. We need to swallow our pride, confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our only savior! Peter tells us in the first reading from Acts that in choosing Christ, we save ourselves from a corrupt generation, (Acts 2:40).
Now this generation will not take too kindly to us turning our attention to Jesus Christ – even less if we dare talk with people about Jesus. They want us pick a side in the hedonistic political struggles of our age: social decadence or wealthy indulgence. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. That’s why we are told in our second reading from First Peter that we will suffer because of our faith. But that’s okay because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light!
As Bishop Barron says, “This is the power and message of the cross, that dynamic into which we the baptized have been drawn. Redemptive suffering is what Jesus did on the cross: putting up with suffering for doing what is right.” My brothers and sisters, if Jesus was willing to suffer for you and me, couldn’t we risk a little suffering to follow him?
Homework! Having been nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and an Act of Spiritual Communion, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions.
- The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. How can I discern God’s call for me? What is God leading me to do?
- But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers. What voices call me away from Christ? What temptations do I need to run away from?
- I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. When do I feel most alive? What can draw me closer to God in those moments?
I think doing our homework will help us refocus our lives of discipleship as we emerge from sheltering in place. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
Art for this post: CC BY 2.0. Sheep in front of a cattle grid, by SKITTZITILBY, Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sheep_in_front_of_a_cattle_grid.jpg.
References:
1. Barron, Robert. “Fourth Sunday of Easter.” Message to Deacon Rudy Villarreal, et al. May 3, 2020. E-mail.
2. Keating, Daniel. First and Second Peter, Jude. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011.
3. Kurz, William S. Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013.
4. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
5. Poecking, David. “4th Sunday in Easter – May 3, 2020.” Homiletic & Pastoral Review, May 1, 2020. Accessed May 2, 2020, https://www.hprweb.com/2020/05/homilies-for-may-2020/.
6. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
1. Conversion, faith, and baptism, 14, 189, 1064, 1226, 1236, 1253-55, 1427-29
2. Calling on the name of Jesus, 432, 2666
3. Jesus is Lord, 446-51, 746
4. Pope and bishops as shepherds, 553, 857, 861, 881, 896, 1558, 1561, 1568, 1574
5. Culpability for Jesus’ death, 591, 597-98 5.
6. Jesus’ self-offering, 606-9
7. Christ an example in bearing wrongs, 618, 2447
8. Jesus at God’s right hand, 659 7.
9. Prophecies of the Holy Spirit, 715
10. Christ the Shepherd and Gate, 754, 764, 2665
11. Priests as shepherds, 874, 1120, 1465, 1536, 1548-1551, 1564, 2179, 2686
12. Repentance and baptism, 1226, 1240, 1427
13. Human equality and solidarity, 1934-42 12.
14. Slavery prohibited, 2414 13.
15. Good of work, 2427-29
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Mass readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050320.cfm
Lectionary: 49
First Reading
ACTS 2:14A, 36-41
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice, and proclaimed:
“Let the whole house of Israel know for certain
that God has made both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,
and they asked Peter and the other apostles,
“What are we to do, my brothers?”
Peter said to them,
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you,
in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off,
whomever the Lord our God will call.”
He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them,
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about three thousand persons were added that day.
Responsorial
Psalm 23: 1-3A, 3B4, 5, 6
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R. Alleluia.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R. Alleluia.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R. Alleluia.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. or: R. Alleluia.
Second Reading
1 PT 2:20B-25
Beloved:
If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good,
this is a grace before God.
For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.
He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
When he was insulted, he returned no insult;
when he suffered, he did not threaten;
instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross,
so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed.
For you had gone astray like sheep,
but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Alleluia verse
John 10:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 10:1-10
Jesus said:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate
but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”
Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved,
and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”