Homily 4th Sunday of Easter Year A I Homily 26 April 2026 Year A

 

My dear friends, today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter in Year A. The readings invite

us to listen carefully—to a voice that calls us to repentance, strengthens us in suffering, and leads

us to true life. They remind us that in the midst of confusion and many voices, only one voice

truly leads us home—Jesus Christ.

The first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles takes place on the day of Pentecost in

Jerusalem, shortly after the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples, once afraid after the crucifixion,

are now filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter boldly declares that Jesus, whom they crucified, has

been made “Lord and Messiah” by God. It confronts the people with the truth, but it is not meant

to condemn them. Instead, it invites them to recognize God’s action in Jesus. His words “cut to

the heart,” showing that true preaching touches the conscience and leads to inner change. The

people respond with an important question: “What should we do?” Peter’s answer is

simple—repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. Repentance means a real change of

direction in life. Baptism marks a new beginning, and the gift of the Spirit brings new strength.

About three thousand people accept this message, showing the powerful work of God. A key

message for us today is that God uses even human failure for new beginnings. The same people

who rejected Jesus are now invited into salvation. True faith is never passive—it requires a

response. It begins when we let God change our direction, not just our feelings. We see

repentance not as shame, but as a turning point. The crowd does not stay trapped in guilt; they

move toward hope, baptism, forgiveness, and community. Today, we are asked: How do we

respond to Jesus? Are we open to change, or do we resist it?

The second reading taken from 1 Peter is written to early Christians who were facing

suffering, rejection, and even persecution for their faith. Saint Peter encourages them to remain

strong and faithful, even when they suffer unjustly. In the Roman world, many Christians were

slaves or socially weak, and this message gave them hope and direction. Peter teaches that there

is no value in suffering for doing wrong, but there is grace in suffering for doing good. He points

to Jesus as the perfect example. Jesus Christ suffered without sin, without retaliation, and

without hatred. Even when insulted and tortured, He did not respond with anger but entrusted

Himself to God. His suffering was not meaningless—it brought healing and salvation. Peter uses

a powerful image: “By his wounds you have been healed.” The suffering of Christ becomes a

source of life for others. He also describes Jesus as the shepherd and guardian of our souls,

reminding believers that they are not alone. This passage reminds us that Christian suffering is

not passive resignation but active trust in God. It is a witness. When we endure injustice with

patience and love, we reflect Christ to the world. Jesus transforms suffering—what seems like

defeat becomes a path to redemption. For us today, this passage challenges us: How do we

respond when we are hurt or treated unfairly? Do we react with anger, or do we trust God? 

Following Christ means choosing to love even in suffering, knowing that God can bring healing

and purpose out of it.

As a child, have you ever got lost? That moment of panic—looking around, seeing unfamiliar

faces—until suddenly you feel a gentle pat on your shoulder or hear a familiar voice calling your

name. Instantly, fear turns into relief. You know you are safe because you recognize who is

calling you. That is exactly what Jesus is speaking about in today’s Gospel. He describes Himself

both as the shepherd and as the gate. In the ancient world, sheepfolds had a single entrance, and

the shepherd himself would often lie across it at night. He became the gate—nothing could enter

or leave without passing through him. This gives a deep meaning to Jesus’ words: “I am the

gate.” He is the threshold between life and death, truth and falsehood, safety and danger. To enter

through Him is to step into a life that is secure and guided. All other voices—those of “thieves

and robbers”—represent false promises that distract, confuse, and ultimately harm. Jesus also

says that the shepherd “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” This shows a personal

relationship. God does not deal with us as a crowd, but as individuals. He knows us, our

struggles, our fears, and our desires. More importantly, He goes ahead of us. He does not push

from behind but leads from the front. The sheep follow because they recognize His voice.

This passage also speaks about discernment. Every day we make choices—and not every voice

leads to life. We must learn to recognize the voice of Christ from the voices that are false. The

voice of Jesus brings truth, peace, courage, and holiness. False voices often bring confusion,

pride, fear, or selfishness. One practical question we can ask is: Does this choice lead me closer

to Christ, or away from him? Jesus promises, “I came that they may have life, and have it

abundantly.” This abundant life is not about having more things, but about living with meaning,

peace, and inner freedom. When making decisions—career, relationships, daily choices—do we

pause and ask: Is this leading me closer to Christ? Do we recognize His voice in prayer, in

Scripture, in our conscience? Choosing His voice leads us through the right gate—from

confusion to clarity, and into the fullness of life. Following Jesus is not about losing life but

finding it. When we stay near the gate and listen to the shepherd, we are protected, guided, and

strengthened. Today, many voices compete for our attention—but only one voice leads to life.

Stay close to the gate. Listen to the Shepherd. And you will never be lost. May God bless us all.