Fourth Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 51
8 MAY 2022 A.D.


Reading I
Acts 13:14, 43-52

Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga
and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.
Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism
followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them
and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.

On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered
to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the city,
stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them,
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5

R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
           serve the LORD with gladness;
           come before him with joyful song.
R.  We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Know that the LORD is God;
           he made us, his we are;
           his people, the flock he tends.
R.  We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

The LORD is good:
           his kindness endures forever,
           and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.


Reading II
Rev 7:9, 14b-17

I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

Then one of the elders said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

           “For this reason they stand before God’s throne
                       and worship him day and night in his temple.
           The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
           They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
                       nor will the sun or any heat strike them.
           For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
                       will shepherd them
                       and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
                       and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”


Alleluia
Jn 10:14

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


Gospel
Jn 10:27-30

Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”

Overview of the Gospel:

• The setting for this Sunday’s Gospel is the city of Jerusalem during the Jewish Feast of the dedication,
also known as Hanukkah. This feast celebrated the deliverance of the Jews from the Greek tyrant,
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, during the Maccabean Revolt (168—165 B.C. See 1 Maccabees 4:36-39).
Antiochus had attempted the Hellenization (forced adoption of Greek culture) of Israel and had ordered
the committing of sacrilege in the Jewish temple.

• During this festival, there was sure to be strong nationalistic feelings against the Roman occupation of
Israel, and a heightened longing for the coming of Messiah.

• At this time Jesus is within the Temple precincts amidst the crowds. He is challenged to proclaim
outright whether or not he is the promised Messiah.

• Jesus tells them in effect that it is because of their refusal to believe, that they cannot recognize who he
is (verses 25-26). He then goes on to make two other remarkable claims that scandalize and infuriate
them. [courtesy of Vince Contreras: "Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics"]


"Let me hold fast You, Lord, Whom the Angels themselves yearn to look upon. Wherever you go, I will follow you. If you pass through fire, I will not flinch; I fear no evil when you are with me. You carry my griefs, because you grieve for my sake. You passed through the narrow doorway from death to life, to make it wide enough for all to follow. Nothing can ever separate me from your love." ~St. Bernard of Clarivaux

Thanks!

Our pleasure, Brother!

Hope y'all had a great "Good Shepherd" Sunday and Mother's Day!