Sunday Connection

  
Sunday Connection

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. The Sunday Connection provides useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.


Fourth Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

Sunday, April 30, 2023

This Sunday’s Readings

First Reading
Acts of the Apostles 2:14a,36-41
Peter and the other apostles baptize 3,000 people.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd.

Second Reading
1 Peter 2:20b-25
We have been healed by the wounds of Christ.

Gospel Reading
John 10:1-10
Jesus is the gate for his sheep.

Background on the Gospel Reading

This fourth Sunday of the Easter season is sometimes called Good Shepherd Sunday because in each of the three lectionary cycles, the Gospel reading invites us to reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In each cycle the reading is from the tenth chapter of John’s Gospel. This chapter sets the framework for Jesus’ teaching about himself as the Good Shepherd.

Today’s reading falls between the stories of Jesus’ healing of the man born blind and the raising of Lazarus. Both of these stories were proclaimed in the Gospels found in this year’s season of Lent. Following the controversy that ensued when Jesus healed the man born blind, Jesus directs his allegory about the sheep and the shepherd toward the Jewish religious leaders of his time, the Pharisees.

Throughout John’s Gospel the Pharisees fail to accept Jesus’ ministry and teaching. They show themselves to be “robbers and thieves” because they try to lead the sheep without entering through the gate, Jesus. Through these metaphors, Jesus is telling his listeners that those who follow him and his way will find abundant life. He identifies himself both as the shepherd and the gate. The shepherds who are faithful to him are the ones whom the sheep (Jesus’ disciples) should follow.

The relationship between the sheep and their shepherd is based on familiarity. Sheep recognize their shepherd and will not follow a stranger. At the end of the day, shepherds lead their sheep from pastures to a common gated area called a sheepfold. There, one shepherd protects all of the sheep until the next day when each shepherd returns to lead his own sheep to pasture. As shepherds move among the sheep, the sheep follow only their shepherd.

Today’s Gospel also gives us the opportunity to reflect on Christian leadership. Jesus’ words suggest to us that those who will lead the Christian community will be known by their faithfulness to Jesus. The leaders will recognize that Jesus is the gate for all of the sheep and that having a good relationship with Jesus is the primary characteristic of a Christian leader. Jesus’ allegory also suggests that faithful Christian leadership requires a good relationship with the community: the shepherd knows his sheep, and they know him. Christian leaders follow the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by being faithful to him and by being a good shepherd.


Gospel Reading
John 10:1-10
Jesus is the gate for his sheep.


Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

Help younger children understand that a shepherd is someone who leads and cares for his sheep. Just as a shepherd loves and cares for his sheep and leads to them safety, Jesus loves and cares for us, and we follow him to God the Father.

Materials Needed

  • picture of a shepherd and sheep

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

  1. Show the picture. Ask: Do you know what a shepherd is? (Accept reasonable responses.) Invite children to tell you what they think a shepherd does. Say: A shepherd has many jobs. He cares for his sheep. He takes care of them, makes sure they are nourished with food and water, and keeps them safe from danger. Let’s listen carefully to today’s Gospel to hear what Jesus says about shepherd and sheep.

  2. Read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, John 10:1–10

  3. Say: Jesus says that the sheep will not follow a stranger. Ask: Why do the sheep follow the shepherd? (He calls them by name, and they recognize his voice.) Say: The shepherd knows and cares for his sheep, so the sheep trust him and follow him. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He knows and cares for us. We are the sheep. We trust and follow him.

  4. Say: Jesus also tells us that he is the gate for the sheep. The sheep enter through the gate into safety. Jesus protects us and gives us eternal life with God.

  5. Close by praying together: Jesus, thank you for being our Good Shepherd. You know us by name, and you love and care for us. Amen.


Gospel Reading
John 10:1-10
Jesus is the gate for his sheep.


Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

Children in this age group are beginning to be able to identify the traits of a good leader. Jesus’ teaching about what it means to be a good shepherd is often used as a model for Christian leadership. We can help children recognize and distinguish the characteristics of Christian leadership and invite children to adopt those character traits in their own lives.

Materials Needed

  • A chalkboard and chalk
    OR
  • A flip chart and pens

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

  1. Say: The fourth Sunday of Easter is sometimes called Good Shepherd Sunday because in the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus talks about what it means to be the shepherd of the sheep. He also compares himself to the gate that sheep go through to get into the sheepfold, the yard where they stay at night for safety. Almost everybody in Jesus’ time knew about sheep and shepherding, and so when Jesus explained his ideas by talking about sheep, people understood. In today’s Gospel he says that a good shepherd recognizes his sheep and that the sheep recognize and follow the shepherd. Today we still talk about shepherds when we describe Christian leaders. Before we hear today’s Gospel, let’s talk a bit about what it means to be a good Christian leader.

  2. Ask: What are some characteristics that good Christian leaders share? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Write the children’s responses on the board. Say: We will return to these words in a moment. Let’s listen carefully to today’s Gospel now to see what else we might add to this list. Remember that a sheepfold is an enclosed yard where a shepherd watches over his sheep. After a day in the pasture, shepherds bring their sheep to a sheepfold for the night. One shepherd guards the gate and protects the flock from thieves. In the morning, each of the shepherds leads his sheep out of the sheepfold and into the pasture.

  3. Invite a volunteer to read aloud today’s Gospel, John 10:1-10.

  4. Ask: What is the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep? (The sheep recognize and follow the shepherd.) How do the sheep know their shepherd? (He enters the sheepfold through the gate. The gatekeeper knows him. His voice is familiar.)

  5. Say: Christian leaders are sometimes said to model themselves after the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Having heard today’s Gospel, what can you add to our list of traits of good Christian leaders? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

  6. Say: Good Christian leaders have a good relationship with Jesus. They know that Jesus is the gate for the sheep. By knowing Jesus and faithfully following him, Christian leaders help the Church to follow Jesus. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that there is only one way to abundant life and that way is through him.

  7. Conclude by praying together that we will all be faithful followers of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Pray together today’s psalm, Psalm 23.


Gospel Reading
John 10:1-10
Jesus is the gate for his sheep.


Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Young people at this age are beginning to identify the traits of a good leader. Jesus’ teaching about what it means to be a good shepherd is often used as a model for Christian leadership. We can help the young people recognize the characteristics of Christian leadership and encourage them to adopt those character traits themselves.

Materials Needed

  • None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

  1. Invite the young people to think about people who give direct service to their community in their daily jobs, such as a school principal, a coach, or a firefighter.

  2. Then ask: What qualities does a good leader possess? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

  3. Use their opinions and examples to point out that a good leader recognizes everyone’s worth, talent, and ability.

  4. Say: A shepherd is someone who leads. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus explains the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep.

  5. Invite a volunteer to read aloud today’s Gospel, John 10:1-10.

  6. Ask: What is the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep? (The sheep recognize and follow the shepherd.) How do the sheep know their shepherd? (He enters the sheepfold through the gate. The gatekeeper knows him. His voice is familiar.)

  7. Say: Good Christian leaders have a good relationship with Jesus. They know that Jesus is the gate for the sheep. By knowing Jesus and faithfully following him, Christian leaders help the Church follow Jesus. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that there is only one way to abundant life and that way is through him.

  8. Conclude by praying together that we will all be faithful followers of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Pray together today's psalm, Psalm 23.


Gospel Reading
John 10:1-10
Jesus is the gate for his sheep.


Family Connection

Even though we have less experience with sheep and shepherds today in our society, we can still identify strongly with the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and as the gate for the sheep. Psalm 23 remains a popular and favorite psalm for prayer. In the image of the Good Shepherd, we know ourselves to be protected and cared for by a loving God.

As your family gathers, ask what each person knows about sheep and shepherds. Recall that shepherds and sheep have a close relationship. Sheep will only follow their own shepherd; they recognize his voice and will not follow a stranger. The shepherd’s job is to protect his sheep. In some ways, the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep is like that of a parent and child. Read together this Sunday’s Gospel, John 10:1-10. Talk about how Jesus tells us that he is the gate for the sheep. The sheep enter the protection of the sheepfold through the gate. In Jesus we find protection and abundant life. Conclude by thanking Jesus for being our Good Shepherd and by praying today’s psalm, Psalm 23.