OMELIE / Omelie EN

26 apr 2026

26/04/2026 – 4th Sunday of Easter – Year A

26/04/2026 – 4th Sunday of Easter – Year A

Day of Prayer for Vocations

1st Reading: Acts 2:14, 36–41; Psalm 22 2nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:20–25 Gospel: John 10:1–10

Today’s passage from St Peter’s letter urges us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the shepherd who cares for each one of us: ‘You were like sheep going astray, but now you have been brought back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.’ He, says the apostle, ‘suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his footsteps’. Following in his footsteps demands our full attention: we will keep a close watch on him to see how he behaves, how he obeys the Father, how he allows himself to be mistreated and insulted without responding, without seeking revenge. Jesus’ footsteps are footsteps that always show us the new commandment lived out as he taught it and as Peter imitated him: precious guidance for living under his protection and guidance.

Once again, Saint Peter, in the speech he delivered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost—and which we hear in part in the first reading—presents Jesus as the one who saves us ‘from this perverse generation’, as the one whom God himself has appointed Lord over all people, even though the house of Israel itself had crucified him, and thus rejected him. Those listening to Peter repent and wish to make amends for their sin. What can they do? With confidence, the apostle says: ‘Let each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ Jesus, mocked and killed, becomes the saviour of those who mocked and killed him! It is a great mystery of a love that no one could have imagined.

Jesus himself, in this Gospel passage, helps us to understand something of his mystery. There are thieves and robbers in this world who know how to ‘steal, kill and destroy’. The images of the sheep, the flock and the sheepfold allow the Lord to present himself to us in a way that we can easily understand. Thieves and robbers, so as not to be seen by the watchman, do not seek the gate of the sheepfold. Their voice is unknown to the sheep, who therefore, when they open their mouths, are frightened and flee from them. The shepherd, on the other hand, enters through the gate. In this passage, before presenting himself as the shepherd, Jesus presents himself as the gate. This aids our discernment.

Who can we believe? Who can we trust? We will trust those who, to come to us, pass through the gate, making themselves known. I will take seriously the words of those who come to advise me or instruct me with the teachings of Jesus: these have passed through the gate. Those who do not refer to him, I cannot listen to. Anyone who comes to me with words and thoughts that are not those of the Gospel does not deserve our trust: they are comparable to a thief and a robber.

The image used by Jesus is simple, yet effective. We often seek advice or help from the most diverse people: we look for those who present themselves with diplomas or degrees. It is certainly our duty to seek advice and obtain opinions from qualified people. But what use will we make of them? As we listen to the Lord, we shall be careful always to compare the opinions received from men with the Word of Jesus, ‘the gate of the sheep’. So-called human wisdom, in fact, may not always coincide with that of God, which is fundamental for us. We wish to be members of the kingdom of heaven and not of some kingdom of this world.

The words of the prophet Jeremiah remain ever true: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man’ and ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord’. The image used by Jesus, presenting himself as the gate for the sheep, helps us to live consciously, listening to him. It is always he who can stand before the sheep to lead them out so that they may find pasture.

Today we receive the invitation to pray, and to pray much, always, so that believers in Jesus may enjoy the ministry of the true shepherd, the one who can be listened to without fear of being deceived. It is Jesus who has addressed this invitation to us: ‘Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest!’ We shall therefore pray that all those chosen as pastors in the Church may pass only through the Gate, and be living images of the Shepherd. And we shall also pray that those who receive from Jesus the call to take on the task of shepherd may respond with courage and freedom, and offer themselves joyfully to serve their brothers and sisters in holiness.