Scripture Reflections for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

“throughout his epistles Paul doesn't say a word about Jesus' teaching. What he says over and over again is anastasis; resurrection. That's the message that frightened them in the ancient world. That's the message that turned everything upside down...That's the message that gives real hope to the oppressed.”

“How do we know about Paul? Well, from the Act of the Apostles, yes, but also from his letters written to these little churches...in addressing these churches he addresses all of us down through the centuries this message of Paul has come...because of his great witness”

“though it looks as though that worldly power holds sway, real power belongs to the army of those who have chosen to follow the crucified and risen Savior”

“The quite elaborate imagery of the shepherd, the sheep, the door and the pasture speak to us of God’s self-sacrificing love in Jesus, which surrounds us continually with nourishment and protection”

“if Christ’s word is to have any chance of sinking into our minds and hearts to the extent that we do recognise His voice and are motivated to follow Him by committing our lives to Him, then we have to discipline our minds in the art of attentiveness to His voice”

“Where there are many voices there is great danger of confusion. Great concern for the people of God is expressed in this passage; if the people are misled, if they are persuaded by a false voice, they could be prevented from attaining the Kingdom of God.”

“The voice of Christ does not try to dazzle us, to manipulate us or to control us. It is a voice that is not for mindless sheep, but for sheep who decide for themselves and who are prepared sometimes not to ‘follow the herd.’”

“As we continue in this Easter season, we celebrate our redemption. We celebrate the shepherd Jesus calling us each by name to follow him. We are fortunate that he would do this, but it is up to us, the sheep, to follow this voice of Jesus.”

“Having and hearing a voice is a foundation for the two-way street of hospitality and relationship”

“sheep didn't respond to voices not belonging to the shepherd...they were able to distinguish it. So must we, amidst the cacophony of voices around us”

“We are all challenged to listen to the voice of God, so as to be guided and protected, but we should also hear the voice of God in poor people, and share our resources so all can receive the basics of life, such as a good education”

“The Church constantly proclaims the Gospel, a message of love and salvation which is also—at the same time and for that reason—subversive, a threat to the status quo and social order”

“This story from Acts also shows us that sometimes God’s guidance is in Plan B. The first plan doesn’t work. But a second one does.”

“in addition to praying that God’s grace will put an end to some difficulty or suffering we may need to pray for God’s grace in our struggles with those difficulties and that suffering.”

“We need to have courage that Christ will get us through the disappointments and trials, and help us to become better people”

“It is the Lamb, the one who takes the form of the servant, who is the Shepherd, the ruler, and the guide”

“The Bible shows us in many places that in order to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, intelligence is not enough. In fact, natural intelligence counts for very little.”

“make sure you are following the Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, the real shepherd, the senior pastor that is Jesus Christ...imitate me as I imitate Christ. Don't follow me blindly. Don't follow any man blindly. Your faith, your salvation is too important”