4th Sunday of Easter Year A – Good Shepherd Sunday
Sunday April 30, 2023
Mass Readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday)
- First Reading – Acts 2:14A, 36-41: “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.”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”
- Second Reading – 1 Peter 2:20b-25: “For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.”
- Gospel – John 10:1-10: “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.”
Themes for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday)
The readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday) remind us that Jesus Christ leads us through the gate of salvation. In the first reading Peter calls all to conversion. The psalm reminds us that God is always caring for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. The second reading tells us that when we stray, we can return to the Lord. And in the gospel Jesus promises to lead his people to safety and warns us to be cautious about who we follow.
- Discernment
- Discipleship
- Recognizing the Lord’s voice
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday).
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Resources for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday)
I Hear My Shepherd – A Lesson Plan on Listening to God
This lesson plan will help youth understand that we need to put some effort into listening to God. We won’t be able to hear him if there are a lot of distractions in our lives. Youth will also learn how the Examen can be used to listen to God.
Shepherd’s Voice Game
This game helps youth understand the importance of listening. Each group of sheep must listen to their shepherd’s voice and follow it. It also goes well with a lesson on sticking together in community.
Homilies and Reflections for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday)
Suffering for Doing Good
From Bishop Robert Barron. Our second reading, which is from the first letter of Peter, a beautiful text that we consult only rarely in the course of the liturgical calendar. It seems eminently clear from the totality of this letter that it was written to a suffering, probably persecuted, Church.
What Are We To Do?
From Scott Hahn. Easter’s empty tomb is a call to conversion. By this tomb, we should know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah, as Peter preaches in today’s First Reading.
Apostolic Preaching
Also from Bishop Barron. Our first reading for this weekend, taken from the second chapter of Acts, conveys one of Peter’s great sermons. If we listen attentively, we can learn a lot about good preaching, but also a lot about the nature of Christianity.
More Thoughts for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday)
Protection and Perseverance
The Good Shepherd offers us protection from those who would lead us astray. He guides us to the gates of heaven. But we must hear his voice and follow. This involves repentance and a commitment to do what he asks. And we will probably encounter some suffering along the way.
We are strengthened for this task through baptism and by the Holy Spirit. Our Christian community also supports us. And we can find comfort in our Good Shepherd who suffered for us.
Reflection Questions for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday)
- How have I heard and followed the Lord recently?
- Where do I find strength when I am suffering?
- Who needs my support today?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday)
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
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