April 26, 2026 4th Sunday in Easter Gospel: John 10:1-10
Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. The Church celebrates the Vocation Sunday today. Pope Leo XIV has chosen for this year’s Vocation Sunday the theme: “The Interior Discovery of God’s Gift.” I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
In our daily lives, we often pass through various doors. For instance, when we rise from our beds in the early morning, we go in and out through the bedroom door. When we leave home for various needs of life, we pass through the door of our house. When we take public transportation, we enter and exit through the doors of these vehicles in order to reach our destination. When we arrive at our destination, we pass through the entrances and exits in order to accomplish, within these man-made structures, what we desire to do according to the thoughts in our hearts. However, are the things we want to accomplish the things God wants us to accomplish? Is the place I am entering where God wills me to enter?
When we come to church to participate in the Mass, what intention do we hold? If we want to satisfy our own desires within the church or realize our own ambitions within the Church, then we are thieves. For our improper behaviour causes the sheep belonging to Christ’s fold to go astray. If we understand the Word of God according to our own mindset and preach to the world what we think is the Word of God based on our own ideas, then we are unqualified gatekeepers. Those sheep of Christ’s fold whom we let out—that is, those faithful whose minds are not yet mature—will lose their lives due to our negligence.
Today, Jesus says: “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep” (cf. Jn 10:7). He is the only way for us to reach the City of God. Likewise, we Christians, having received Baptism in Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are called to become the way for others to reach God. Therefore, in our lives, we must rediscover the seed of vocation that the risen Lord Christ has sown in our hearts, eagerly follow the will of the Holy Spirit, and complete the mission He has entrusted to us. Thus, while we ourselves receive the life promised by the risen Lord Jesus Christ, those who live with us day and night may also, through our good works, obtain the richer life promised by the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
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