The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to respond to the prompting of the Spirit to invite the people in our environment to accept the care of the Good Shepherd.
In the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Baptism of the Gentiles is Explained.
* [11:1–18] The Jewish Christians of Jerusalem were scandalized to learn of Peter’s sojourn in the house of the Gentile Cornelius. Nonetheless, they had to accept the divine directions given to both Peter and Cornelius. They concluded that the setting aside of the legal barriers between Jew and Gentile was an exceptional ordinance of God to indicate that the apostolic kerygma was also to be directed to the Gentiles. Only in Acts 15 at the “Council” in Jerusalem does the evangelization of the Gentiles become the official position of the church leadership in Jerusalem.
* [11:3] You entered…: alternatively, this could be punctuated as a question.
* [11:12] These six brothers: companions from the Christian community of Joppa (see Acts 10:23). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 42 longs for the divine presence that Israel experienced in the Temple liturgy
* [Psalms 42–43] Ps 42–43 form a single lament of three sections, each section ending in an identical refrain (Ps 42:6, 12; 43:5). The psalmist is far from Jerusalem, and longs for the divine presence that Israel experienced in the Temple liturgy. Despite sadness, the psalmist hopes once again to join the worshiping crowds.
* [42:1] The Korahites: a major guild of Temple singers (2 Chr 20:19) whose name appears in the superscriptions of Ps 42; 44–49; 84–85; 87–88.
* [42:3] See the face of God: “face” designates a personal presence (Gn 33:10; Ex 10:28–29; 2 Sm 17:11). The expressions “see God/God’s face” occur elsewhere (Ps 11:7; 17:15; cf. Ex 24:10; 33:7–11; Jb 33:26) for the presence of God in the Temple.
* [42:5] The shrine of the Mighty One: this reading follows the tradition of the Septuagint and the Vulgate. (Psalms, PSALM 42 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, the good shepherd discourse continues.
* [10:1–21] The good shepherd discourse continues the theme of attack on the Pharisees that ends Jn 9. The figure is allegorical: the hired hands are the Pharisees who excommunicated the cured blind man. It serves as a commentary on Jn 9. For the shepherd motif, used of Yahweh in the Old Testament, cf. Ex 34; Gn 48:15; 49:24; Mi 7:14; Ps 23:1–4; 80:1.
* [10:16] Other sheep: the Gentiles, possibly a reference to “God’s dispersed children” of Jn 11:52 destined to be gathered into one, or “apostolic Christians” at odds with the community of the beloved disciple.
* [10:18] Power to take it up again: contrast the role of the Father as the efficient cause of the resurrection in Acts 2:24; 4:10; etc.; Rom 1:4; 4:24. Yet even here is added: This command I have received from my Father. (John, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Mary Lee Brock comments that Pope Leo’s Easter homily had many words of wisdom that helped her name the impact of feeling threatened and overwhelmed. Pope Leo names the many threats we are collectively experiencing. Internal threats such resentments, worries, and loneliness. And the many external threats we are witnessing (and sadly at times perpetuating), including violence, injustices, partisan selfishness, and the idolatry of profit.
In today’s Gospel from John, Jesus reminds us he is the good shepherd who chooses to lay down his life for his sheep. I hear a call to action in his words as he reminds us that we can choose to follow his example by reaching out to those who might not belong in the fold, hoping they hear his voice. The image of Jesus as the shepherd is the opposite of the individualism that is a force in our society and of the transactional nature of many “hired man” relationships.
In this Easter Season, let us be inspired for a new beginning by the words of Pope Leo:
Death opens us up to a hope that never fails, to a light that never fades, to a fullness of joy that nothing can take away: death has been conquered forever; death no longer has power over us! (Brock, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes Green pastures and still waters, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The pastures that this good shepherd has prepared for you, in which he has settled you for you to take your fill, are not various kinds of grasses and green things, among which some are sweet to the taste, some extremely bitter, which as the seasons succeed one another are sometimes there and sometimes not. Your pastures are the words of God and his commandments, and they have all been sown as sweet grasses. These pastures had been tasted by that man who said to God, 'How sweet are your words to my palate, more so than honey and the honeycomb in my mouth!'" (excerpt from Sermon 366,3,1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 10:11-18 comments that just as a shepherd knows all his sheep and can recognize each one individually—even though to an untrained eye they all look the same—Jesus knows us uniquely, intimately. He knows our greatest strengths and deepest weaknesses and sins. He knows and loves us so completely that he freely gave his life for us. “No one takes it from me,” he said, “but I lay it down on my own” (John 10:18).
It can feel unsettling to realize that Jesus knows the depths of our sin, but it is also comforting—he looks upon us with great love and compassion. Think for a minute about a painting or a statue of the Good Shepherd that you might have seen. Maybe Jesus has a lamb around his neck, or perhaps he is holding it close to his heart. Hold onto that image as you pray today. Imagine yourself as that lamb. What thoughts or feelings arise as you are held safely in the arms of Jesus, who knows and loves you so fully? What might you say to the Lord? He already knows your cares and burdens, so you can place them in his capable hands. Open your heart to receive the love that the Good Shepherd has for you.
“Jesus, you are my Good Shepherd. Thank you for laying down your life for me.” (Meditation on John 10:11-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that, in Acts, Peter returns to Jerusalem after baptizing a God-fearing Cornelius. Peter had a dream of unclean animals and he initially refuses but God declares nothing God creates is unclean and Cornelius has a vision to call on Simon and the Holy Spirit falls on the household. The Church, in Acts, continues to be guided by the Holy Spirit to go out to the Gentiles. The Good Shepherd will protect his sheep even by giving up his Life. John’s Gospel opens in the Temple and leads to his Jesus Passion as a foreshadowing. In John, The Shepherd has to be attentive to the outside forces and inner impulses of the sheep. Friar Jude notes Jesus' proclamation of one flock and one Shepherd and how, in Jesus, all will become one.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, responds to the question, “Why was Jesus not afraid?” To the people of Israel, throughout the prophets again and again, and in every type of cataclysmic situation, we hear: “Do not be afraid.” Through Isaiah, “Do not be afraid.” To Joseph, the father of Jesus and husband of Mary, “Do not be afraid.” And, of course, to Mary who said yes, the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary.”
Why this word over and over again? Because we’re afraid! We’re wrapped and sometimes even trapped in our fear. We want to go beyond it and yet somehow it controls us. We fear what we do not know and do not understand. We fear that what we are afraid of will control us, while we long to control our own lives.
Deep down, we long for freedom, but if we want to be free from fear, we must be willing to gaze into God’s eyes as Jesus did. We must be willing to ask the same questions Jesus was asking. It’s not important that we get answers. I don’t think Jesus got that many answers, but we need to be asking the right questions: What is it that we desire? What is it that we’re trying to protect? What is it that we’re afraid is going to overtake us and control us?
We can’t attack fear head on. We can’t simply say to ourselves, “Don’t be afraid” because it doesn’t work. It isn’t that simple. We have to go deeper, be curious about where the fear is coming from, and trust God with it. (Rohr, n.d.)
We invite the Spirit to inform our contemplation of the role of the Good Shepherd in our spiritual journey and in the mission of believers gathered by the Spirit to “shepherd” His flock.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/11?1
Brock, M. L. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 27, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-27-2026
John, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?11
Meditation on John 10:11-18. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 27, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/27/1551428/
Psalms, PSALM 42 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/42?
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Calming Our Fears. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 27, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/calming-our-fears/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Am the Good Shepherd. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 27, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
