Fourth Sunday of Easter 2026

Psalm 23 & John 10:1-10

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter, traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In 1964, Pope Paul VI designated this day in response to the declining number of vocations in both seminaries and convents. Established as World Day of Prayer for Vocations, it is now observed not only within the Catholic Church but also across other Christian traditions, including the Anglican Communion.

On this Sunday, it is customary to proclaim the Gospel of the Good Shepherd, along with related texts such as Psalm 23.

Since biblical times, the image of the shepherd has been closely associated with leadership, especially religious leadership, guiding people in their relationship with God. In Christian tradition, the community leaders are seen as shepherds entrusted with the care of God’s people. Who are God’s people? The world!

Shepherding is one of the most ancient human occupations. In the book of Genesis and throughout the Pentateuch, we encounter key figures associated with pastoral life: Abraham, Isaac, Rebeca, Jacob, Rachel were keepers of flocks; and Moses tended sheep before his call. David, the shepherd boy, was later called to be king. The work of a shepherd required vigilance, dedication, and deep love for the flock: providing food and water, offering guidance, protecting from danger, healing the wounded, and, if necessary, risking one’s life for the sheep.

Because of this profound experience, Israel came to confess God as Shepherd. Psalm 23 stands as one of the most beloved expressions of this faith. There, David proclaims, from his own lived experience, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want”. The psalm poetically expresses God’s tender care, faithful guidance, and sustaining presence. The green pastures and still waters evoke rest, restoration, and dignity of life. Even in “the valley of the shadow of death,” God remains present, offering protection and consolation. The psalm culminates in a hope of abiding communion with God: to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. It is a testimony of trust in God’s enduring love and fidelity.

David certainly experienced the Good Shepherd’s guidance, provision, and protection, living securely under divine care. This invites us to reflect: how have you experienced the presence of the Divine Shepherd in your own life?

The prophetic tradition deepens this imagery. The prophets proclaimed God as the true Shepherd of Israel, one who gathers, cares for, and protects the flock. At the same time, they denounced the leaders—political and religious—who failed in their responsibility. Texts such as Ezekiel 34 and Jeremiah 23 condemn shepherds who exploit and scatter the flock instead of serving it. In contrast, the prophets announce the promise of a future shepherd, a messianic figure who will shepherd God’s people with justice and compassion.

This promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus. In John 10, He reveals himself as the Good Shepherd:  “I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters by me will be saved... and find pasture” (Jn 10:9). Jesus and His disciples lived in a turbulent world filled with many leaders but few true shepherds. Many leaders of that time—the “hired hands”—sought only power, wealth, and fame. They were unwilling to care for those threatened by hunger, disease, discrimination, and violence.

In contrast to the hired hand who abandons the sheep at the first sign of danger, Jesus embodies a leadership defined by self-sacrificing love. He declares that he knows his sheep and his sheep know him; their relationship is personal, intimate, and life-giving. In a world marked by false leadership—then as now—Jesus stands as the true Shepherd who feeds, heals, liberates, and ultimately gives his life for his flock.

This Gospel invites us to examine our own relationship with Jesus. Do we truly know the Good Shepherd? Do we recognize his voice amid the many competing voices of our time? Do we follow him, especially in moments of uncertainty, suffering, or fear?

Sisters and brothers, this Sunday challenges us to consider our vocation as a community. In a world often marked by abandonment, injustice, and fragmentation, we are called to share in Jesus’ shepherding mission. Discipleship demands responsibility—to care for the vulnerable, to accompany the lost, to defend life, and to build communities rooted in compassion and justice. We can only become shepherds in the measure that we have first encountered the love, mercy, and healing of the Good Shepherd.

Within the Church, some are called in a particular way to pastoral leadership as deacons, priests, and bishops. Their ministry is a gift and carries a profound responsibility. However, shepherding is the mission of the entire Church and involves the whole community. How are we called to embody Jesus’ shepherding presence in our own lives today?

Can you hear Jesus’ call echoing now? “Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture”. Let us enter through this gate and find pasture together! Amen.