2026/04/26 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Fourth Sunday of Easter

- Elise Giles, Sr. Manager of Evangelization & Growth

Happy Fourth Sunday of Easter! There is so much hope in this Sunday’s readings, along with the assurance that God knows us, loves us, and desires for us to know and love Him also. 

Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” Reading this psalm is like taking a deep breath. It’s easy to get caught up in the worries and desires of the world, losing sight of who Christ truly is. This psalm reminds us that we have a Shepherd who knows our deepest needs and leads us beyond our anxieties and longings, so that we can experience His peace regardless of our circumstances. 

In the Gospel from John, Jesus says He is the gate for the sheep, and whoever enters through Him will be saved. At first, this might seem confusing. Why doesn’t He say He is the shepherd? But in reflecting on this, we see that He is both. He is our Shepherd, and seeking salvation through Him requires choosing a particular path and passing through the gate by living as He calls us to live. Anyone can say that Jesus is their shepherd, but truly entering through the gate and committing to the Christian life is more demanding. 

Yet Jesus does not ask this of us for His own sake. He tells us that He “came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). This promise is something we can hold onto when we feel worn down or hesitant to fully live our faith. Jesus desires our lives to be filled with the love, peace, and joy that only He can give. This Easter season, may we allow Jesus to truly be our Shepherd and guide us through the gate that leads to a life of abundance.