Background on the Gospel Reading
The fourth Sunday of Easter is also called Good Shepherd Sunday. In each of the three lectionary cycles, the Gospel is taken from the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John. This chapter of John’s Gospel follows Jesus’ healing of the man born blind and the rejection of this miracle by Jewish leaders who question Jesus’ authority to heal. Jesus responds to this challenge to his authority by calling himself the Good Shepherd. He is criticizing the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders. Already, the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders are so angered that they attempt to stone and arrest Jesus (see John 10:31 and 10:39). This controversy with the religious leaders continues until Jesus’ death.
Set in a moment of tension and conflict in John’s Gospel, today’s Gospel reading is Jesus’ answer to the question, “Are you the Messiah?” Jesus responds by saying, in essence, “If you have to ask, then you are not one of my sheep.” Then Jesus asserts his unity with the Father. At the conclusion of these words, John reports that the Jews intend to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but he escapes arrest.
We may be less familiar with the metaphors of sheep and shepherd than those to whom Jesus spoke. The image of Jesus as Good Shepherd and the community of followers as his sheep has endured over the centuries as a primary image in our faith tradition. Its power to describe the relationship between Jesus and his followers transcends direct experience with sheep. The image speaks to us about the protection, security, and care that shepherds represent for their sheep.
Today’s Gospel speaks powerfully about the familiarity and intimacy between Jesus and his disciples, expressed as recognizing and knowing another’s voice. Today’s Gospel also speaks to the relationship between Jesus and the Father. In the Gospel of John, Jesus identifies so closely with the Father that he tells us that they are one—not just close, but actually one. To know Jesus is to know the Father. Jesus doesn’t just bring us closer to the Father, Jesus puts us directly into contact with God the Father, removing all distance between us. Our relationship with Jesus is an invitation to share in the life of God.
Family Connection
Not only can we recognize family members’ voices, we can also read the tone of their voices and know something about how they are feeling. In our relationship with Jesus, we know Jesus’ voice and are called to follow. Jesus doesn’t just bring us closer to the Father, Jesus puts us directly into contact with God the Father, removing all distance between us. In the Gospel of John, Jesus identifies so closely with the Father that he tells us that they are one—not just close, but actually one. Knowing Jesus means knowing the Father.
Read with your family today’s Gospel, John 10:27-30. Ask your family members to talk about some ways that Jesus brings them closer to God and closer to one another. Pray together the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love.
Text courtesy of Loyola Press
We recommend using the Sunday Connections webpage from Loyola Press throughout the year to help you study and engage the weekly gospels with your children. You can click on this link to Sunday Connections and it will take you to a page with all three Sunday readings with background on the Gospel. Then click on the Family tab at the top for reflections for families and activities to do with kids. You may also want to click on the school grade tabs at the top of the page for ideas of age-appropriate activities and topics of discussion.
See more below . . .
In the month May we celebrate the feasts of St. Joseph the Worker (May 1), St. Athanasius (May 2), Sts. Phillip and James, Apostles (May 3), St. John of Avila (May 10), Our Lady of Fatima (May 13), St. Matthias, Apostle (May 14), St. Isidore (May 15), St. Bernardine of Siena (May 20), St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions (May 21), St. Rita of Cascia (May 22), St. Philip Neri (May 26), St. Augustine of Canterbury (May 27), Ascension of the Lord (May 29), and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (May 31).
Check out Francisanmedia.org & young-catholics.com where you will find a collection of resources to help you learn more about these astounding men and women.
Below is a bulletin made especially for children. Each week it contains activities like; puzzles, gap-fills, and summaries or explanations related to the Sunday readings. Print out the images below and work with your child to prepare for Sunday’s readings and learn about the saint of the week.
Check out https://lucefriends.fun/
