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.

1 PETER 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.

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."

The fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday because the Gospel readings in the three-year cycle take up the theme of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In this particular Gospel, two things stand out. First, there is oneness between the shepherd and his sheep as the latter recognize the voice of the former. Moreover, one can infer the deep dedication of the shepherd to his sheep even to the point of risking his life for them.

Perhaps we find it difficult to appreciate this imagery of shepherd and sheep considering that we do not own sheep, it is nonetheless important as it allows us to understand our God who remains mysterious yet intelligible. Jesus is saying that his relationship and dedication to us is as close as the shepherd is to his sheep. Like the shepherd, Jesus is always with us. He never deserts us. He is there to assist us and should we get lost from the flock, Jesus will leave the other ninety-nine sheep and go in search of us. What God said to his chosen people, Israel, through the prophet Isaiah, Jesus says to each one of us personally:

“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: You are mine. Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious, and because I love you... Fear not for I am with you; From the east I will bring back your descendants, from the west I will gather you.” (Is 43: 1,4-5)

Like the shepherd, Jesus knows each one of us in a deeply personal way. He knows our strengths, weaknesses, kindness, vulnerabilities, tempers, and dreams, among others. He relates to each one of us in a unique manner. Yet in all our encounters with him, Jesus unfailingly communicates and assures us of his personal and unconditional love. His fidelity and care are something we can always rely on.

Today, let us remember any person in our lives that have concretely been Good Shepherds just like what Jesus has been and will always be to us.

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Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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