Daily Readings for April 22, 2018

Fourth Sunday of Easter

1st READING

Jesus is the foundation upon which the early Church leaders built their faith. The leaders point to Jesus as the center of Christian faith and life. Unfortunately, He is seen today as an added extra, and our faith has become a set of rules rather than a dynamic relationship. If we keep Jesus at the heart of our faith, we will avoid both institutionalizing faith and trivializing the need for a personal relationship with Jesus.

Acts 4: 8-12

8 Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “Leaders of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, 10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. 11 He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

P S A L M 

Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29

R: The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. (R) 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. (R) 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 28 You are my God, I give you thanks; my God, I offer you praise. 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

2nd READING

John reminds us that we will eventually see Christ even though we do not see Him at the moment. We must avoid sin because it obscures the vision of God and eternal life from our eyes, minds, and hearts. Let us trust God’s promises and not lose sight of the hope that carries us through life.

1 John 3:1-2

1 Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

GOSPEL

Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel that a good shepherd is ready to lay down his life for his sheep. But sadly, there are many shepherds who are more concerned about their own welfare than that of their flock. If a shepherd is unwilling to suffer for his sheep, then he has no right to be in that position. Only a shepherd who gives until it hurts will win the respect of his flock.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.

John 10:11-18

11 Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one floock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”