4th Sunday of Easter Cycle A Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of the discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.

GOSPEL - JOHN 10:1-10 “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 he 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, they 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. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Explore it! Today’s reading takes place about four months before Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. This discourse appears immediately after Jesus’ healing of the man blind from birth (4th Sunday in Lent, Cycle A). Recall that at the end of that story, Jesus was addressing the Pharisees who didn’t think they were blind – He still addresses the Pharisees. 1 “Amen, amen, I say to you, The doubled Amen, when used in John, is an indication that a very grave matter is being discussed – a matter of life and death.

whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. 2 But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, The gatekeeper of the fold and the sheep can easily distinguish the genuine shepherd from the intruder. as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. This method of herding sheep is still in use in Palestine today. Rather than being driven, the sheep are led by the shepherd. 4 When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. 5 But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” All the sheep of the village were kept in a common fold. Each shepherd would call out his own sheep and lead them away to pasture. The sheep would not respond to anyone but their own shepherd so there was no danger in mixing the flocks at night. The Pharisees do not recognize Jesus, but the people of God, symbolized by the man born blind (John 9:1-41, 4th Sunday in Lent, Cycle A), do. 6 Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. The Pharisees do not recognize Jesus, but the people of God, symbolized by the man born blind [John 9:1-41 (4th Sunday in Lent, Cycle A)], do. 7 So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. In the first part of this reading, Jesus identified Himself as the true shepherd of God’s sheep. Now, He identifies Himself with the gate of the sheepfold. He is applying the significance of the gate as put forth in the first verse of our reading today. Those who have come to the fold through Him, the apostles and their successors, are legitimate shepherds. 8 All who came (before me) are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. Jesus is not condemning the leaders of God’s people appointed in the Old Testament. They were not “before” Him since they were part of the descent from God of which He is the ultimate fulfillment. Only those who come in by some way other than the gate are the interlopers and God’s sheep have recognized them as such.

9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. Just as the sheep and legitimate shepherds enter the fold only through the gate, so entry is gained into God’s fold, God’s pasture, only through Jesus the Christ. 10 A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; Ezekiel 34 castigates the leaders of the people as bad shepherds who fatten themselves at the cost of the sheep. I came so that they might have life John 1:4 says “through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race”. and have it more abundantly. John 1:16 says “From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace”.

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS http://www.scborromeo.org

Reflect It!

There are multiple themes that run through today’s readings: the appeal of God’s word; God’s marvelous care for us; the work of the Holy Spirit inspiring conversion. I was especially moved by the twin notions of challenge and comfort,prominent in Peter’s speech in the Acts of the Apostles and the analogy of the “good shepherd” from John’s gospel. The reading from Acts continues the speech begun in last week’s liturgy as Peter preaches to the “house of Israel.” His speech represents the core of the gospel and the disciples’ newfound faith in the Risen Jesus. Peter’s words are a dense expression of the entire gospel. He boldly challenges his hearers to admit that they had totally missed the message contained in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and to open themselves to faith in the Christ. Peter reveals to them who Jesus is and how they disregarded his intentions for them: “God made (him) both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” He speaks stinging words in calling his audience to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name. This hard-core challenge produced three thousand persons to repentance and faith in Jesus that day. (Thus is fulfilled Jesus’ earlier promise to the disciples, “I will make you fishers of people,” – what abundance!) Ultimately we are the beneficiaries of Peter’s exciting and challenging words. God’s word will be equally astonishing for the entire world: the promise reflected in Jesus’ ministry and life coupled with the work of the Holy Spirit was effective for those in front of Peter that day in Jerusalem and ”to all those far off.” We are some of those

(far off) and thus invited to ongoing repentance based in our baptism. The “amen, amen I say to you” at the beginning of the gospel passage alerts us to the importance of what follows. This introductory clause is like a bold headline by which Jesus says something like, “Don’t miss what follows.” So let our ears perk up to hear and capture for ourselves the truth surrounding the care and nourishment brought by the good shepherd. The sheep have come to know and to trust in the shepherd. They recognize his voice and none other as he calls them to move forward towards more abundant food and water. That same trust and comfort is ours as we listen attentively to the voice of Jesus in our every day lives. How blessed we to be challenged and comforted by the word of God. Peter’s challenge and the allegory of the shepherd representing Jesus who knows us so very well truly are an Easter message. We recognize him and are recognized by the voice of Jesus who speaks a comforting message of love that challenges us to live out the Easter life within us – a life that beckons us to an ever deeper commitment to God and his Son Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Tom Shanahan, S.J. University Relations http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Archive/2014/051114.html

Game: The Good Shepherd’s Voice Purpose: Recognizing the voice of the Good Shepherd Supplies: large sheet How to play: Pick a member to represent the Good Shepherd and another member to represent a false shepherd. Hold or tie a large sheet up that the 2 members can stand behind. Have them take turns giving various commands to the children like in the game “Mother, May I.” If the children respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd they may stay in the game. If they respond to the voice of the false shepherd they must sit down. Explain to the class the importance of recognizing the voice of the Good Shepherd and underscore that the only way we can do this is by knowing God’s Word. ------------------------Game: Sheepfold Purpose: Jesus is the only entrance to salvation. Directions: The goal of this game is for each team to try to collect the most “sheep” in their “sheepfold” in a given amount of time.  Divide the kids into four teams.  Set up five hula hoops in the room to look like the five side of a die. (One in the center of the room and one in each corner.) These are the “sheepfolds.” If you don’t have hula hoops available, mark off the spaces in some other way, using tape, carpet squares, or whatever you have on hand.  In the center circle, place a bunch of ball-pit balls, crumpled up paper, bean bags, or cotton balls. These are the sheep. There should be enough “sheep” that each child can have one for the game, plus several extras. About three sheep for every two kids should do.  Have all the team members start by standing in front of their own sheepfold. Set a timer for five minutes. (Or more or less, depending on how long your kids can enjoy this game.)  When you signal, all players will run to the center sheep pen and take one sheep. Players may only hold one sheep at a time. They then put this sheep in their own pen and go to collect another sheep.  Players are allowed to steal sheep from other folds. Game play ends when you give the signal. (This can be done either verbally, by playing music throughout the game, or turning the lights on to start the game and off to finish it.)  Each team counts how many sheep they collected. The team with the most sheep wins. Variation: have one member from each team be the “protector” or “shepherd.” Their job is to be the goalie, or guardian of their team’s sheepfold. They may tag players who are coming to steal their sheep. These players must then bring a sheep from their own flock to put in the one from which they were trying to steal. The shepherd may only tag one player at a time, and must stay within one “regular sized” footstep of their own fold at all times. http://ministry-to-children.com/the-seven-i-am-statements-of-jesus-lesson-4/

Băng Reo: The Lord is my Shepherd He restores my soul - The Lord is my Shepherd He guides my path - The Lord is my Shepherd He comforts my fear - The Lord is my Shepherd He restores my soul, guides my path, comforts my fear - The Lord is my Shepherd, He is my Shepherd, my Shepherd! Song: The Lord is my Shepherd (sing faster to add excitement) The Lord is my Shepherd, I’ll walk with him always He leads me by still waters, I’ll walk with him always Always, always, I’ll walk with him always. Always, always, I’ll walk with him always. The Lord is my Shepherd MP3 The Lord is my Shepherd Music Sheet