Hymn, readings and prayers for Sunday

Ruben Aponte, Lima

The collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father's sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father. 

The First Reading: Acts 4: 5-12

The Jewish rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’

This week’s reading is the continuation of the account of Peter and John’s arrest following their healing of a crippled man at the Temple Gate. The Jewish rulers feared that their authority was being undermined by the preaching of the apostles and the large numbers flocking to hear their message. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, did not focus on himself or on the miracle of healing but simply stated that it was through the power of Jesus Christ that health had been restored to the cripple. Jesus was the cornerstone, the foundation stone, the first stone to be laid and from which all other stones take their position and alignment. Just as the structure of the building depends on that one stone, so our lives will be that more stable and supportive of others when centred on the Love and Peace of Jesus.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Epistle: 1 John 3: 1-7

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given

Mausoleum  of Galla Placida, Ravenna  c 425

Gospel reading: John 10: 11-18

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away – and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’ 

In the first reading, Jesus was referred to as the cornerstone. Here Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd. Maybe he was thinking of the text in Ezekiel 34 where the leaders of 8^th century BC Israel were condemned by God for failing to look after their people:  Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? ³ You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. ⁴ You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost.  

Shepherds had no social status at the time of Jesus. They lived on the margins of society, isolated and undervalued,  and yet the sheep that they tended provided the meat, milk and wool on which so many depended for their wellbeing. A shepherd’s life was nothing like the romantic one some may imagine today. In summer the heat was oppressive, in winter it was cold. The sheep would wander off and fall into gullies. Jackals and other predators would attack if the shepherd was not vigilant. Often the good shepherd would put his life at risk to save his flock. Jesus not only died for his flock, he rose again - and continues to care for us, in the same way that we are commanded in this week’s Epistle to care for one another.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the love and peace with which you surround us and for the stability that you give to our lives through your son, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd and the Cornerstone.

• We pray for Christians throughout the world that they may be inspired and guided by the Good Shepherd as they seek to serve their communities with compassion and sensitivity.
• We pray for all working with livestock and for those seeking to promote high standards of animal welfare
• We pray for all living in war torn countries and for those seeking to resolve conflict.
• We pray for those in our society who feel isolated and marginalised, whether through reasons of race, disability or circumstance.
• We continue to pray for those known to us who are in poor health, thinking especially of ..........................................................  May they feel the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.
• We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have recently departed this life …...  

Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd, and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again: keep us always under his protection, and give us grace to follow in his steps; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.