April 25 - 4th Sunday of Easter
(Acts 4:8-12; I Jn 3:1-2; Jn 10:11-18)
Today’s reading from Acts highlights Peter’s response to the authorities who ask him by what power he has affected this healing of the lame man. The authorities are religious leaders associated with the Temple – priests, captain of the Temple guard, which consisted of Levites and some Sadducees who were upset with them for preaching about the resurrected Jesus and healing in his name. Sadducees did not believe in resurrection of the dead. When our Faith is challenged, we too can rely on the Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ as the Risen Savior of the world. The image of the stone rejected that becomes a cornerstone in Psalm 118 intends to convey the notion of victory over one’s enemies. John instructs as to what it means to be children of God. By the grace of divine generation through water and the Spirit, which is received by faith at our Baptism, we become sons and daughters of the Father and recipients of his love and protection. We are called to lead holy lives in imitation of Christ. In John we learn Jesus identifies himself as the good (noble or ideal) shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. The sheep symbolize the Jewish people. The wolf represents threats that come in the form of false messiahs and others who claim to provide people with a path to salvation. The hired man represents ineffective efforts to protect the community, because he has no commitment to the community and only works for pay. Jesus desires an intimate relationship with his sheep, modelled after the relationship that he has with the Father. We, too, are called to hear his voice and respond in obedience to the great love that he shows us in laying down his life for us.