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The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

Last updated on: April 21, 2026 at 9:25 am by Dennis McIntyre

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The Good Shepherd 2026-04-21T09:25:46-04:00 Dennis McIntyre

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In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus tells us He is the Good Shepherd – image courtesy of Vecteezy.com.

The gospel reading for this Sunday, April 26, 2026, is about Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, and the gospel is from the book of John. Let’s look at the readings.

Gospel Text –John 10:1-10

Jesus said:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So, Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate.

Whoever enters through me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

First Reading – Acts 2:14a, 36-41 – The Shepherd Calls His Flock

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaims that the crucified Jesus is now Lord and Messiah. His preaching “cuts the listeners to the heart,” leading them to repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Church is born as those who “accept the message” enter the flock. The Shepherd calls, gathers, and restores His scattered sheep.

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b4, 5, 6 – The Shepherd Who Provides and Protects

David proclaims the Lord as the Shepherd who guides, refreshes, protects, and accompanies His people through every valley. The message is that God leads to rest and restoration, guided by God who walks with His people in danger. The Shepherd is not distant — He is intimately present, guiding and guarding.

Second Reading – 1 Peter 2:20b-25 – The Shepherd Who Suffers for the Sheep

Peter teaches that Christ’s suffering is not only redemptive but sets the standard for us. Jesus bore our sins, healed our wounds, and brought us back when we had strayed. His innocent suffering becomes the pattern for Christian endurance. Jesus’ wounds heal our spiritual sickness. We were lost sheep, now returned to the “Shepherd,” who rescues the lost by laying down His life.

Gospel –John 10:1-10 -The Shepherd Who Leads to Life

Jesus identifies Himself as the true Shepherd and the gate. His voice is recognizable, His leadership trustworthy, and His mission life-giving. The sheep know the Shepherd’s voice. There will be false shepherds (thieves and robbers) who lead to destruction. Jesus is the gate — the only path to salvation. He comes so His sheep “may have life and have it more abundantly.” The Shepherd leads His sheep into freedom, safety, and abundant life.

The Catholic View

Jesus is the gate to abundant life – image courtesy of Vecteezy.com.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gathers the lost, protects the vulnerable, heals the wounded, and leads His people into abundant life — and we are invited to respond by hearing His voice and following Him.

The readings show us:

Acts – shows the Shepherd calling His flock into the Church.
Psalm 23 – shows the Shepherd guiding and protecting His people.
1 Peter – shows the Shepherd healing and reclaiming the straying sheep.
John 10 – shows the Shepherd leading His sheep to life and safety.

We are invited to hear His voice, turn from old paths, trust His guidance, and follow Him into life.

How has your Easter been going? This is an amazing time of joy, and I invite you all to share your thoughts about your Easter and this article in the “Comments” section.

Peace

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About Dennis McIntyre

In my early years, I was a member of the Methodist church, where I was baptized as a child and eventually became a lector. I always felt very faith-filled, but something was missing. My wife is Catholic, and my children were baptized as Catholics, which helped me find what I was looking for. I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself, walking with Jesus. I was welcomed into the Catholic faith and received the sacraments as a full member of the Catholic Church in 2004. I am a Spiritual Director and commissioned to lead directees through the 19th Annotation. I am very active in ministry, serving as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister and providing spiritual direction. I have spent time working with the sick and terminally ill in local hospitals and hospice care centers, and I have found these ministries challenging and extremely rewarding. You can read more about the author here.

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