Easter

The sound of Alleluias fills the 50 days of Easter Sunday to Pentecost as we give thanks for the gift of our salvation. The Easter Triduum recalls the passion and resurrection of Christ in the sacred journey from Holy Thursday to Easter Vigil. "Dying he destroyed our death. Rising he restored our life."

Sunday Readings and Backgrounds

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Fourth Sunday of Easter

Reading I : Acts 13:14, 43-52

Many became believers.

The reading from Acts describes the first missionary outreach of the early church.
Paul and Barnabas were sent fourth by the Holy Spirit to spread the good news.
When they were rejected by the Jews, Paul and Barnabus decided to bring the message to the Gentiles.

Reading II : Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

The Lamb at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water.

Today’s passage from Revelation was part of a grand vision in which all God’s faithful were gathered.
The faithful “survived the time of great distress”, which probably refers to persecution of the early church.
God’s faithful became united with Christ in his death and were sustained in life by him.

Gospel : John 10:27-30

I give my sheep eternal life.

In the Gospel, Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd.
The passage goes on to describe the relationship between Jesus and his Father.
John stresses the unity between Jesus and the Father.