Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
Monday April 27, 2026
Listening To The Shepherd
Monday of the 4th Week of Easter invites us to think about how God leads the Church and each believer. The readings focus on listening, trust, and learning to see beyond our limits. They remind us that faith grows when we stay open to where God is working, even when that work surprises us.
In the first reading, the early Church faces change and questions. Peter explains what he has seen and heard, and the community learns to listen together. This moment shows how faith is shaped through shared prayer, honest speech, and attention to the Spirit’s guidance.
The psalm gives words to longing. It speaks for anyone who feels dry or restless but still seeks God. On Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, this prayer reminds us that wanting God is part of faith, not a failure of it. Seeking is itself an act of trust.
The Gospel brings the image of Jesus as shepherd and gate. His voice brings safety and life. Together, the readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter point us toward a faith that listens, follows, and learns to trust care that does not abandon us.
Daily Mass Readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
- First Reading – Acts 11:1-18: Peter recounted a vision and divine guidance that led him to preach to Gentiles, who then received the Holy Spirit. His explanation silenced critics, affirming God’s inclusive salvation.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 42: Like a deer thirsts for water, my soul craves you, O God. Let your light and truth guide me to your holy presence, where I will joyfully praise you.
- Gospel (Year A) – John 10:11-18: Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. He contrasts the Good Shepherd with a hired hand who abandons the sheep in times of danger, and explains that he willingly sacrifices himself for the salvation of his followers, who recognize and listen to his voice.
- Gospel (Years B and C) – John 10:1-10: Jesus is the gate for the sheep. Those who enter through him will be safe. He came so that people may have life in abundance, unlike thieves who bring harm.
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15
Themes for the Readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
The readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter focus on God’s call to all people, the role of the Good Shepherd, and the unity of God’s family. They invite us to reflect on how we respond to God’s voice and how we live as part of His flock.
- God’s Call to All: The first reading highlights that God’s invitation extends to everyone, not just a specific group. This shows that His mercy and love are meant for all who turn to Him.
- The Good Shepherd: In the Gospel, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. He shows His deep care and willingness to sacrifice for those who follow Him.
- Listening to God’s Voice: Both readings emphasize the importance of listening to God. The sheep recognize the Shepherd’s voice, and Peter listens to God’s message to welcome others into the faith.
- Unity in God’s Family: Peter’s vision in the first reading reveals that all people are invited into God’s family. This reminds us that there is no division in the love of Christ.
- The Shepherd’s Sacrifice: Jesus speaks about laying down His life for His sheep. This shows the depth of His love and His commitment to save us from sin.
- Faithful Leadership: Jesus’ role as the Good Shepherd teaches us about faithful leadership and care for others. It calls us to follow His example in how we guide and care for those entrusted to us.
Monday of the 4th Week of Easter reminds us to listen for God’s voice and trust in the Good Shepherd who leads us. The readings call us to embrace unity in God’s family and live in the love and care of Christ.
Reflection for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
The readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter show us the openness of God’s love and the care of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. They remind us that His call is for all people and that we are invited to follow His example of leadership and service. These reflections encourage us to listen for God’s voice and trust in His guidance.
God’s Family Is Open to All
The first reading for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter highlights Peter’s vision, where God reveals that His love is for everyone. Peter realizes that the message of salvation is not limited to one group but is for all who believe. This is a moment of growth for the early Church, as it begins to embrace people from every nation.
This vision reminds us that God does not show favoritism. His family is open to everyone, no matter their background or past. We are all invited to be part of His kingdom through faith and trust in Him.
This reading calls us to reflect on our own openness to others. Are we willing to welcome and include those who may be different from us? Peter’s vision encourages us to see every person as loved and valued by God.
The Good Shepherd’s Example
The Gospel for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter shows Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who knows His sheep and leads them with care. A shepherd is not just a leader but someone who protects, guides, and sacrifices for the flock. Jesus models what faithful and loving leadership looks like.
This example teaches us how to care for those entrusted to us, whether in our families, workplaces, or communities. Leadership is not about power but about serving others and helping them grow. Jesus shows that true leadership means being willing to give of yourself for the good of others.
We are called to follow the Good Shepherd’s example in our own lives. Whether through small acts of kindness or larger responsibilities, we can reflect His care by looking out for those in need. His leadership inspires us to guide others with love and humility.
Listening and Following
Both readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter emphasize the importance of listening to God. In the first reading, Peter listens to God’s direction in the vision and opens his heart to welcome all people. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the sheep who know His voice and follow where He leads.
Listening to God requires trust and attentiveness. It means setting aside distractions and being open to His guidance, even when it is unexpected. The sheep follow the shepherd because they recognize His voice and trust in His care.
These readings encourage us to ask ourselves if we are truly listening for God’s voice in our lives. Are we willing to follow where He leads, even when it feels uncertain? Trusting in the Good Shepherd helps us to walk the right path and remain close to Him.
The reflections for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter challenge us to welcome others, follow Jesus’ example, and stay attentive to His call. May we walk closely with the Good Shepherd, sharing His love and care with those around us.
Prayer
Lord, open our hearts to hear Your voice and follow where You lead. Help us to welcome others with love and to care for them as You care for us. Guide us to trust You and to share Your goodness with the world. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- How can you be more open to welcoming others into God’s family?
- What can you learn from the Good Shepherd about caring for others?
- How do you listen for God’s voice in your daily life?
- What steps can you take to follow God’s guidance more closely?
Homilies and Commentaries for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
The Only Gate That Saves
Jesus says he is the sheepgate, and through him comes salvation. This does not mean that only baptized Catholics are saved. But it also doesn’t mean that any spiritual path will do. Christianity is not just one option among many. It is the way God chose to save the world.
Bishop Barron explains that with Christ, something truly new has happened. Through the cross, Jesus brings redemptive suffering, offering it for the salvation of the world. Those who are baptized share in that mystery. The message of Monday of the 4th Week of Easter is that Jesus alone is the gate. He is the one through whom all are saved—even if they do not know him explicitly.
Steal, Kill, Destroy
Jesus warns that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, while He comes to give us life—abundant life. The reflection asks us to think about what in our lives is stealing joy, killing hope, or destroying peace. There are things in our culture and habits in our lives that do just that. Jesus invites us to listen to His voice and follow Him like sheep follow their shepherd.
This message from Matthew Kelly for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter reminds us that it takes humility and persistence to follow Jesus, especially in a world that encourages us to do whatever we want. If we’ve wandered away, now is a good time to come back. The Shepherd is always calling us back to the fullness of life.
Secondhand Shepherds
On Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, we reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd, even though most of us have never met a real shepherd. Msgr. James Vlaun encourages us to think about secondhand shepherding—knowing, being free, and being faithful. These are the traits Jesus shows us, and they are also what we are called to live as his followers.
Msgr. Vlaun says being a shepherd means knowing others by the heart, not just by name. It means acting freely, not out of duty, but out of love. And it means staying faithful, even when we feel helpless. We all care for some kind of flock—family, friends, or community—and Jesus calls us to guide one another with care and love. Like him, we are meant to walk with others, especially through hard times, and become what we receive in the Eucharist—the body of Christ.
Sheep to Shepherds
In this reflection for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, Fr. Richard Ounsworth explores Jesus’ words about being both the shepherd and the door. These overlapping images can be confusing, but they point to the richness and complexity of the Christian life. We are both sheep who follow the true shepherd and people called to shepherd others by leading them through Christ, the door to life.
He also reflects on the challenge of preaching about vocations, especially when priesthood can be seen with doubt or discouragement. Yet he reminds us that every Christian shares in a priestly mission—to bring others to Christ and to give our lives for others. The Church also needs ordained ministers who reflect Christ as head of the Church. Fr. Richard closes by asking us to pray for the newly chosen pope, that he may lead as a true shepherd in Christ’s name.
Meant to Be
In Bishop Robert Barron’s reflection for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, he discusses Jesus’s self-description as the good shepherd, emphasizing the deep, intuitive connection between Jesus and his followers. This bond allows them to recognize and respond to His voice amidst many distractions.
Bishop Barron suggests that this recognition is not due to mere chance or background but because people are inherently attuned to respond to Christ, similar to how a child recognizes their true calling. This natural resonance with Jesus’s voice draws people closer to Him and His teachings.
From a Distance
This USCCB video reflection for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter discusses the concept of shepherding in relation to spiritual life, emphasizing that while mundane, it embodies the essence of discipleship and divine guidance.
Reflecting on personal experiences in television studios, it illustrates that the true significance of roles like shepherding lies not in their outward glamor but in their persistent, everyday presence and steadfastness. This everyday commitment, exemplified by Saint Joseph, represents the core of a life of faith—guiding and nurturing those entrusted to our care.
Resources
Acts of the Apostles: A Church Opened By The Spirit
This passage from Acts of the Apostles shows how the early Church learned to trust God’s lead rather than human limits. Peter explains that God acted first, sending the Spirit to Gentiles before rules or debates could settle the question. In the wider story of Acts, this moment confirms that the Church grows by listening and responding to God’s work in the world.
For Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, this reading highlights a core theme of Acts: God builds a community that crosses boundaries. The book often shows tension, questions, and disagreement, yet again and again the Spirit brings clarity. Salvation is presented as God’s gift, not something controlled by a small group, but shared with all who believe.
Psalm 42: A Soul That Seeks God
Psalm 42 comes from the Book of Psalms, a collection that gives voice to human prayer in every season of life. This psalm reflects longing and trust held together. The speaker feels distance and struggle, yet continues to hope in God. Across the Psalms, faith is shown as honest prayer rather than easy answers.
On Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, this psalm fits well with the Easter message of seeking life in God. The wider Psalms remind the community that worship includes desire, waiting, and hope. God is not distant, but draws close to those who keep turning toward him, even when their hearts feel dry or restless.
The Gospel of John: The Shepherd Who Knows His Own (Year A)
In Gospel of John, Jesus often speaks using images that reveal who he is and what God is like. Calling himself the Good Shepherd fits John’s focus on relationship and self-giving love. This passage connects Jesus’ mission directly to his willing sacrifice, a theme that runs through the whole Gospel.
For Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, this reading points to John’s larger message of salvation through trust in Jesus. The Gospel stresses that true leadership is marked by care and commitment. Jesus knows his followers, protects them, and gives his life freely so they may remain united with God.
The Gospel of John: The Gate To Life (Years B and C)
This passage from the Gospel of John continues John’s use of everyday images to speak about salvation. Jesus as the gate highlights access, safety, and guidance. Throughout the Gospel, belief in Jesus opens the way to life, while false voices lead to confusion and harm.
On Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, this reading echoes John’s central theme of abundant life. The Gospel presents Jesus as the one who gathers, protects, and leads the community. Life with God is shown as something entered through trust, not fear, and lived within a caring relationship.
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Listening At The Gate
This image reflects the Gospel for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter, where Jesus speaks of the sheep who know his voice and find safety through him. The gathered sheep at the doorway suggest trust, care, and belonging.
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Questions and Answers for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
Why did Peter defend his actions in the first reading for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter?
Peter explained his actions because some believers questioned why he welcomed non-Jews. He shared how God revealed that His message is for all people.
What does Peter’s vision teach us?
Peter’s vision shows that God does not show favoritism. His love and invitation are for everyone who believes and follows Him.
What can we learn from Peter’s obedience in the first reading?
Peter’s obedience shows us how to trust God, even when His plans seem surprising. It reminds us to follow God’s guidance and be open to His will.
Who is the Good Shepherd in the Gospel for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter?
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd. He cares for His followers, protects them, and willingly sacrifices for them.
What does it mean to listen to God’s voice?
Listening to God’s voice means paying attention to His Word and following His guidance. It also means trusting that He leads us where we need to go.
Why is the Shepherd’s sacrifice important?
The Good Shepherd lays down His life to save His sheep. Jesus’ sacrifice shows the depth of His love and how much He wants to save us from sin.
How does the Gospel show Jesus’ care for His followers?
Jesus knows His followers personally, like a shepherd knows his sheep. He is always watching over them and leading them to safety.
Why is Jesus called the Good Shepherd?
Jesus is called the Good Shepherd because He leads, protects, and cares for His followers. He is also willing to lay down His life for their sake.
How do the readings show unity in God’s family?
The first reading reveals that God’s love is for all people, breaking down barriers. The Gospel reminds us that Jesus unites all His followers as one flock under His care.
How can we apply these readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter to our lives?
We can listen for God’s guidance, trust in Jesus as the Good Shepherd, and embrace unity with others in His family. These readings encourage us to live in love and faith.
Called and Cared For
The readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter show how God invites all people into His care. In the first reading, Peter explains that God’s message is not just for one group but for everyone who believes in Him. This moment marks a turning point as the early Church opens its arms to all nations.
In the Gospel, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He speaks of His care for His sheep, knowing each one personally and leading them to safety. The Good Shepherd is willing to lay down His life for His sheep, showing the depth of His love.
Together, these readings invite us to trust in Jesus’ care and listen for His voice. They remind us that God’s love is for all and that He calls us to follow Him as part of His family.
Your Turn
Reflect on the readings for Monday of the 4th Week of Easter and think about how Jesus cares for you as the Good Shepherd. How do you listen to His voice in your life? Consider how Peter welcomed others into the faith and how you can show the same openness.
Share your thoughts in the comments, and let us encourage each other to follow the Shepherd’s call.
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