Illuminations on the Lectionary readings for April 30, 2023 (Easter 4A)

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47

Every year, the Fourth Sunday of the Easter season comforts us with the image of God as our Good Shepherd, gathering up all humanity in protective divine love.

El Buen Pastor, The Young Christ as the Good Shepherd (1660-1665), oil painting on canvas by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. (Click image to enlarge)

That metaphor is implicit without being named in Sunday’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the story of the early church as told by the Evangelist we know as Luke. We hear of the evolution of the young church as a caring flock, inspired by the Holy Spirit to become a loving, sharing community, taking care of each other as they pool their resources while sharing the good news of the Gospel with the world.

Psalm: Psalm 23

Our Good Shepherd is always with us, comforting us and protecting us not only in the green pastures and still waters of good times, but also when we are fearful and afraid, walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Did you notice that we sang this Psalm just a few weeks ago, on the Fourth Sunday of Lent? Our Lectionary readings return to it often: Five times in every three years we hear its assurance that God’s goodness and mercy are always with us. When you’re feeling lonely and afraid, try sitting quietly with these verses. Breathe deeply and feel the Shepherd’s comforting presence.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25

The Lectionary spares us a disturbing surprise by passing over the verses that precede this reading, but in these times we might do well to face that reality: The writer advises readers to honor the Roman emperor; then issues a startling directive to those who are slaves: “Accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh.” The passage we read today goes on to evoke Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, reminding the early Christians suffering persecution that Jesus suffered and died unfairly, having done no wrong. Like lost sheep, we go astray and suffer, the writer says; but we know joy when we return to Christ, our shepherd and guardian.

Gospel: John 10:1-10

John the Evangelist expands on the shepherd image here as Jesus continues his argument with a group of Pharisees. Jesus calls himself the gatekeeper for the sheepfold, the protective guardian whose familiar voice reassures the sheep. Jesus is further portrayed as the knowing sheepfold gate that opens to allow those protected to enter, while closing to keep out those who would steal, kill and destroy his beloved sheep. Then, in the following verse that we do not read this Sunday, Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for May 3, 2020

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47


The fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called “Good Shepherd Sunday,” as the readings for the day draw our attention to sheep and shepherds as metaphors for God’s protective love.

The Good Shepherd (Fifth century CE), mosaic in the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a UNESCO World heritage site in Ravenna, Italy. (Click image to enlarge.)

Our first reading continues the Acts of the Apostles’ narrative of the spirit-filled church after the first Pentecost. It tells us how that infant flock lived in loving, sharing community, selling all their possessions and distributing the proceeds to any who had need. Following the example set by Jesus, they recognized the joy and challenge of taking the good news of the Gospel to the world.

Psalm: Psalm 23

If you’re scratching your head and thinking that we just recently read the 23rd Psalm, there’s a reason: It was the Psalm we heard on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, just six weeks ago. In time of trouble and of fear, the 23rd offers comfort. To view it in a new way, try reading it in context with the psalm just before it, Psalm 22, one of the most desperate hymns of lament among all the psalms. In the 22nd Psalm the poet utters the hopeless words that Jesus will later repeat on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Still, he calls on God in trust and hope. Then we turn the page and find comfort in the 23rd’s assurance that our loving shepherd will watch over us and protect us all the days of our lives.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25


Prepare for a troubling surprise if you turn back and look at the verses just before this reading: This portion of this letter written in Peter’s name was addressed to slaves. It demanded that they accept the authority of their masters, even if those masters treated them harshly. Nowadays we struggle with the idea of Bible verses that seem to support slavery (not to mention other latter-day hot-button issues). Indeed, these and similar verses were once used to justify slavery as acceptable to God. Perhaps it’s more useful for us to take this as general advice to all who suffer, remembering that Jesus suffered and died unfairly, having done no wrong. Like lost sheep, we suffer, but we know joy when we return to Christ, our shepherd and guardian.

Gospel: John 10:1-10


In the verses just before these in John’s previous chapter, Jesus had been arguing with a group of Pharisees who were angry because he restored a blind man’s sight on the Sabbath. As the new chapter begins here, Jesus seems to be continuing that conversation with the Pharisees as he draws a clear distinction between the good shepherd who cares for the sheep and thieves who break in to steal the sheep. Jesus himself is the gate to the sheepfold itself, he tells them; and he is the gatekeeper too, the protective guardian whose familiar voice reassures the sheep and calls each sheep by name. The gate opens to allow the protected ones to enter, then closes to bar those who would steal, kill, and destroy the beloved sheep. In the next verse after today’s reading, Jesus will declare, “‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for May 7, 2017

The Young Christ as the Good Shepherd. Oil painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Every year, the Fourth Sunday of Easter comforts us with the image of God as our Good Shepherd, gathering up all humanity in protective divine love. That metaphor is implicit without being spelled out in Sunday’s first reading. We hear of the evolution of the young church as a caring flock, inspired by the Holy Spirit to become a loving, sharing community, taking care of each other as they gladly and generously share the good news of the Gospel with the world.

Psalm 23

Our Good Shepherd is always with us, comforting us and protecting us not only in the green pastures and still waters of good times, but also when we are fearful and afraid, walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Did you notice that we sang this Psalm just a few weeks ago, on the Fourth Sunday of Lent? Our Lectionary readings return to it often: Five times in every three years we hear its assurance that God’s goodness and mercy are always with us. When you’re feeling lonely and afraid, try sitting quietly with these verses. Breathe deeply and feel the the Shepherd’s comforting presence.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25

Prepare for a troubling surprise if you turn back and look at the verses just before this reading: This passage was written to slaves, demanding that they accept the authority of their masters, even if those masters treated them harshly. Nowadays we struggle with the idea of Bible verses that seem to support slavery; indeed, these and similar verses were once used to justify slavery as acceptable to God. Perhaps it’s best to hear these words as advice to all who suffer: Jesus suffered and died unfairly, even though he did no wrong. Like lost sheep, we suffer, but we know joy when we return to Christ, our shepherd and guardian.

Gospel: John 10:1-10

Hear these familiar verses in context: In the previous chapter, Jesus had been arguing with a group of Pharisees who were angry because he restored a blind man’s sight on the Sabbath. As the new chapter begins, Jesus draws a clear distinction between the good shepherd who cares for the sheep and thieves who break in to steal the sheep. Jesus himself is the gate to the sheepfold itself, he tells them; and the gatekeeper, the protective guardian whose familiar voice reassures the sheep, calling each by name. The gate opens to allow the protected ones to enter, then closes to bar those who would steal, kill, and destroy the beloved sheep. In the next verse after today’s reading, Jesus will declare, “‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, May 11, 2014

Ancient Greek Orthodox icon of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

The fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called “Good Shepherd Sunday” for its lectionary focus on sheep and shepherds as metaphors for God’s protective love. Our first reading, continuing the Acts narrative of the spirit-filled church after the first Pentecost, tells us how that infant flock lived in loving, sharing community as they recognized the joy and challenge of taking the good news of the Gospel to the world.

Psalm: Psalm 23

Who doesn’t love the 23rd Psalm? In time of trouble and of fear, the 23rd offers comfort. It gains even more power when we read it in context with Psalm 22, one of the most desperate psalms of lament. In the 22nd Psalm the poet utters the hopeless words that Jesus will later repeat on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Still, he calls on God in trust and hope. Then we turn the page and find comfort in the 23rd’s assurance that our loving Shepherd will watch over us and protect us all the days of our lives.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25

Why does this reading seem to begin in the middle of a sentence? It may be a bit troubling to look back and see what came just before: The writer is offering this guidance to slaves, even those who toil for harsh masters. Perhaps it’s more useful for us to take this as general advice to all who suffer, remembering that Jesus suffered and died unfairly, having done no wrong. Like lost sheep, we suffer, but we know joy when we return to Christ, our shepherd and guardian.

Gospel: John 10:1-10

John the Evangelist expands on the shepherd image here, picturing Jesus not only as the good shepherd but also as the gatekeeper for the sheepfold, the protective guardian whose familiar voice reassures the sheep. Jesus is further portrayed as the knowing sheepfold gate that opens to allow those protected to enter, while closing to keep out those who would steal, kill and destroy his beloved sheep.