Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 117; 1John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18

In our first reading we see St Peter talking to the elders a short while after he had cured a cripple, which the elders were not pleased with because he had done so in the name of the Risen Lord. They had hoped that in killing Jesus they would kill off his support as well and yet here was Peter and his companions preaching and healing in Christ’s name. Peter reminds them of what they did and tells them that Christ is the keystone, the only name by which we can be saved. St John tells us in the second reading that, as followers of Christ and children of God, we are outcasts from the world which does not want to know us. But because of the Father’s great love, those who believe in him and live by his commandments will live in glory with God. In the gospel, we have the ‘Good Shepherd’ passage from St John in which Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd who willingly gives his life for his sheep. Those who believe in him listen to his voice and do as he commands and will be gathered together into the one true fold. The challenge for us is to live as outcasts from the world and to shun the ways of this world for the glory which has been promised us through the death and resurrection of Christ.

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter 

Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 41; John 10:11-18

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St Peter is being criticised for associating with uncircumcised people. He tells those who are criticising him that what he did was instructed by God. Clearly, the message of God is meant for all people to hear and to believe regardless of their current beliefs. In the gospel text – a continuation of that for the Fourth Sunday of Easter – Jesus speaks to the people and likens himself to a shepherd, but a shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Christ tells us that many shepherds run away at the first sign of trouble but that the Good Shepherd, the true shepherd who has concern for his flock, freely lays down his life to save those entrusted to him. There is also the suggestion that others outside the Church will also be saved by Christ.

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter 

Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 86; John 10:22-30

Our continuous reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us a constant reminder of the sort of life we are called to – one which proclaims Christ and his Gospel in word and deed. Today’s reading notes that the name “Christian” is used for the first time. It also notes that the Good News is deliberately preached to the Gentiles for the first time thanks to the teaching of St Philip in Samaria and St Peter’s contact with Cornelius, a Roman centurion. In the gospel, the theme of sheep and shepherd is used again today. Despite all that Christ has said to this point, many of those who have heard him have failed to understand what he has been saying. They have failed because they are not the sheep of his flock but follow another shepherd.

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter 

Acts 12:24-13:5; Psalm 66; John 12:44-50

Saints Paul and Barnabas have just completed their work in Antioch (one of the largest cities in the world at the time) in today’s first reading. However, they are again called by the Holy Spirit and so resume their travels in the name of Christ once more, this time travelling to the Gentiles in Cyprus and southern Turkey. In the gospel, Christ proclaims that he is the light of the world who has been sent by the Father to bring all those who believe in him to eternal life, and that to believe in Christ is to believe in the Father.

Feast of St Mark, the Evangelist

There is not very much known about St Mark. It was thought that he was the young man referred to in Mark 14:51-52 who fled at the arrest of Jesus, though there is no proof. He was a companion of St Paul on his first missionary journey as noted by Paul in his writings. Later he joined St Peter, on whose teachings his Gospel is based and which was written for Christians who were being persecuted in Rome to show them that Christ too suffered but never gave up. According to tradition, he founded the Church in Alexandria and was probably its bishop when he was martyred about the year 74. The symbol for St Mark is the winged lion.

Readings

1Peter 5:5-14; Psalm 88; Mark 16:15-20

In our first reading for this feast, St Peter gives instruction to the people on how they should live with one another. In the letter he makes mention of St Mark, who is one of his companions. The gospel account from Mark tells of Christ’s commandment to his followers that they are to go out and spread his Gospel everywhere. Mark himself did this through his travels with St Paul and later with Peter and particularly through the written word of his Gospel.

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Acts 13:26-33; Psalm 2; John 14:1-6

St Paul, in our first reading, continues teaching the people in the synagogue in Pisidia and tells them that when the Jews in Jerusalem had Jesus put to death, they did no more than fulfil sacred scripture. In the gospel, Jesus tells us – in response to a pessimistic remark from St Thomas – that he is the way, the truth and the life and that if we believe in him, we too will have life. Christ is the only way to the Father – as we heard earlier this week – there is no other and any other which appears to suit us better and be more in line with our own views will not bring us to eternal life. Christ is the embodiment of the truth he speaks about and he is the one who gives life to our Eucharistic celebration.

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Acts 13:44-52; Psalm 97; John 14:7-14

In our passage from the Acts of the Apostles we read that many more people are now coming to the synagogue to hear Saints Paul and Barnabas and the message they bring. The Jews are not happy at this but the people are because not all of them are Jews and yet the message is being preached freely to everyone regardless of their current beliefs. In the gospel, Jesus continues to teach his disciples that he and the Father are one and that in believing in him they are believing in the Father. St Philip is slow to believe or to understand that God the Father and God the Son are one and the same person though he has heard this many times from Christ’s own mouth. We have heard these words all our lives and must ask ourselves whether we believe them or whether we’re a little hesitant. True faith is when we accept such mysteries without waiting for proof.