Fourth Sunday of Easter. Year A - Sunday, April 26, 2026 (EPISODE- 582)
Readings for Sunday, April 26, 2026 - Fourth Sunday of Easter. Year A
FIRST READING: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want"
SECOND READING: 1 Pet 2:20b-25
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 10:14). Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord. I know my sheep, and mine know me.
GOSPEL: John 10:1-10
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1074985220 - BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 18, 2018: The icon of Christ as the Good Shepherd in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Giancarlo Pellegrini. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Year A - Sunday, April 26, 2026, by clicking this link here: https://on.soundcloud.com/9JJDOtPaPdOcCNqJew (EPISODE-582 )
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Jesus uses himself as an example of a good shepherd, the perfect leader. Sadly, the world has witnessed plenty of examples of bad leaders, who were motivated not primarily for the good of others, but by their own ambitions and ego. Christ, instead, puts his people first.
He knows them personally, he's not in it for himself, he literally gives of himself completely for our sakes. What a superb example and model for all leadership. Christ uses the image of the shepherd being the gate.
There would not be timber gates back then, but rather the Shepherd themselves would lie across the opening of the sheepfold, and their body would act as a human gate. Nothing could pass by without disturbing the shepherd, who would risk their life and limb to protect their sheep. The true leader puts themselves on the line.
The good shepherd literally puts his body on the line for those he cares for.
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This weekend's gospel is packed with beautiful themes, and it's often known as Good Shepherd Sunday because of the wonderful image of the shepherd that flows through the psalm, the gospel, and the other readings. Because of the theme of the shepherd, it's also traditionally the weekend we particularly pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, that the Lord will raise up shepherds after his own heart to guide and lead his beloved people. Jesus, as we know, is our Good Shepherd, and he promises to walk along with us throughout our whole life journey.
He knows us by name. He leads us by safe paths. He cares about what's happening to us.
He is always interested in hearing us tell him about our hopes and fears, our disappointments and our failures. And he's there to reassure us and give us strength and to affirm to us that if we keep trusting in him, the love of God has the final word in our life. And that final word is the promise that we are beloved sons and daughters of God forever.
The gospel speaks of the image of the sheepfold. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Christ's offering of his whole self, holding nothing back, even giving his life down to the very last drop of his blood, is remembered at each and every Eucharist.
In our liturgy, we constantly speak of this mysterious thing called the Paschal Mystery, which is actually about the mystery of Jesus, who is the spotless Paschal Lamb, the Passover Lamb, who was sacrificed so that we might be saved, our sins blotted out. Through Jesus' life, teaching, ministry, and also his suffering, death and resurrection, we are freed, we are saved. In every Eucharistic prayer, actually throughout the whole Mass, this Paschal Mystery is recalled and made present.
Christ warns us about false shepherds, and I have to smile at a rather amusing, but all too true Latin proverb that goes something like this, It is the role of the Good Shepherd to shear their flock, not to fleece them. Sadly, the world has witnessed plenty of examples of bad leaders who were motivated not by the good of others, not by service to the greater good, but by their own ambitions and ego. It's all too common, and it's terribly tragic.
Jesus gives an example of himself as truly the Good Shepherd, the perfect leader, and this perfection, surprisingly but beautifully, shows itself in service and self-sacrifice. He puts his people first, with love. He knows them personally, and he's definitely not in it for himself.
He literally gives of himself completely for our sakes. What a superb example and model for leadership. If only the world took this on as the only reasonable form of leadership, it would change everything.
Christ uses the image of the shepherd being the gate, which is an extraordinary image. The shepherds themselves would lie across the opening of the sheepfold. Their body would become the human gate.
Nothing could pass in or out without disturbing this living gate, the shepherd, who would risk life and limb to protect his sheep. Many were killed by ravenous animals trying to get to the sheep, but they put their lives on the line to save the sheep. The true leader puts themselves on the line.
The Good Shepherd literally puts his body on the line for those they care for. It's interesting that the gospel today also says the sheep know their master's voice. They won't follow a stranger.
Who would follow a stranger? But here's a modern-day problem. With our modern secular world, the internet, and so much media around, communication and advertising, there's sadly a lot of competing values. Values that are not consistent with each other.
They can't stand together. And all of these different messages are bombarding us all the time, saying, " Pick me. I'm good for you.
You need this. We're bombarded with competing and contrasting values, and we're presented with a whole array of different shepherds saying, I'm the Good Shepherd. Listen to me.
This is what will get you what you want in life. But a lot of it is a lie. We're constantly assailed with voices claiming to be our friends, to be the voice of the master, and offering very easy solutions to very complex problems.
We should be like those discerning sheep who actually go, this doesn't sound like the voice of my master. I'm not going with this strange ideology, and I'm not going with that stranger. They'll lead me down the wrong path.
Some of these voices of so-called good shepherds are telling us what we want to hear, rather than what the gospel calls us to hear. So it's very easy to be tempted to follow the voices out into the wilderness of those who are saying what we want to hear and what suits us. We need to be alert to the fact that we really need to discern and to distinguish the voice of our Lord from the voice of the many false shepherds.
It's not easy, but more necessary than ever. We too need to reflect on the values of Jesus as shown in the gospels and in the tradition and teachings of the church, which help us recognise the true voice of the Good Shepherd and follow it always. At times, it can be very difficult to recognise the voice of Jesus, as many will boldly claim that they speak his name and no other.
A useful guide is for us to look at people's actions and priorities. We can listen to those whose lives reveal the qualities that Jesus revealed. Love, compassion, justice, truth that seeks what is real, not seeks itself, self-sacrifice.
Surely they're reflecting the Good Shepherd in our midst. The big test of authenticity is likely to be this. The real shepherd is not acting to feather their own nest, but acts truly, not just says, but acts in the best interest of others.
Willing to give up things for others and be disadvantaged for their self, not to take advantage of their position, not for their own gain or for their own pride. That's the dead giveaway for a fake shepherd. For in them is self-satisfaction, self-justification, promotion of their own self-image and interests.
There's almost always something in it for them at a very clear point and something at the expense of others in the community. And that's not what the Good Shepherd's about. The gospel today, this beautiful gospel and these wonderful readings in the psalm invite us to think of how we as a society discern leaders for civic roles.
Perhaps it would be better if whenever we're looking for leadership roles, we put up a sign saying help wanted and then say, shepherds needed, dangerous occupation, no personal gain, concern only for others with a humble recompense, willing to sacrifice everything for others, willing even to risk their lives. I wonder how many people would be applying for leadership jobs in society if that's the kind of ad that was telling them what the job description's about. I wonder how many takers would really get if that was the application advertisement for all kinds of leadership in the world.
Thanks be to God, Jesus is our role model. And with Christ, the Good Shepherd, and his example, his mercy, his teaching, his grace, his inclusion, his love, and his wonderful example of servant leadership, we too can bear good fruit for the kingdom.
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References:
References: Fr Paul W. Kelly; some thoughts are taken from "Celebrating the Gospels," by Gaynell Cronin, also Preaching the Word resource; and commentary in St Paul's Sunday missal intro. Also, the picture of a shepherd as the "human gate" is from: https://thepreachersword.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/door-of-sheep.jpg
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1074985220 - BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 18, 2018: The icon of Christ as the Good Shepherd in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Giancarlo Pellegrini. Important information. Editorial Use Only. Photo Contributor: Renata Sedmakova
To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
Fourth Sunday of Easter. Year A (Sunday, April 26, 2026) (EPISODE- 582)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}}
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.
You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy
You are the head of the body, the Church: Lord, have mercy
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want"
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 10:14). Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord. I know my sheep, and mine know me.
Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Preface III of Easter
Euch Prayer II
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{Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}
Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)
Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[Production - KER - 2026]
May God bless and keep you.
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