Walking with Jesus: Fourth Sunday of Easter C

For Sunday, May 11, 2025

Acts 13:14, 43-52; Revelation 7:9, 14-17; John 10:27-30


We are living in the time after Easter: a time of difficulties that the early Church faced in believing and living out what Jesus taught, and in the age-old but new direction He is leading each of us. In the wake of Jesus’ death, the disciples are confused. What has happened? What does this mean for us? How can we live and believe and follow Jesus? The readings illustrate succinctly what happens, and it's not that different from our own faith journey. Are things easy after Jesus dies and rises from the dead? Absolutely not! Are the apostles and new “Christians” admired for living Jesus’ way? Absolutely not! Is it easy to live their new life in Jesus? Absolutely not! Is it easy for us to live as Christians in our very secular world today? Absolutely not! Is it easy for us to see people who are hurting, deprived, persecuted and rejected by loved ones, even being ignored and neglected in their home countries? Absolutely not!

Is it hard for us to respond to the classic reflective question — What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) — living in our world, in our church, our country today? Would He speak up? Remain quiet? Go along with the “experts,” authorities, those “in charge?” What would He really do? The ultimate moral norm to determine what is right or wrong in any circumstance is: How do I best show love in this situation? This love is always called to be caring, forgiving, helping, and recognizing that every person is created by God out of love and is placed in this world at this particular time, in this particular place, so that with God’s grace they will live and love and go to their eternal home in heaven with God. It is a daily reflection for each of us to examine ourselves and ask: How am I doing in loving as Jesus showed me and taught me? Am I making exceptions, thinking Jesus will agree with me? Or am I looking and listening to Jesus — which could be doing the uncomfortable thing?

In Luke’s Acts of the Apostles, we notice a pattern emerging in Paul’s first missionary journey. The missionaries preach — initially with success — until they encounter opposition, sometimes violent, whereupon they move on. In each place they leave behind communities of believers. Their overall concern is to strengthen and encourage the new believers. Their message: “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” [Acts 14:22] Do I live expecting happiness and calmness, or do I feel and live with God’s presence in my life?

Acts continues with big problems. Paul and Barnabas encounter the Jews in the synagogue at Antioch, where the name “Christian” is first used. Seeing a large crowd of believers, the Jews “… [were] jealous and with boldest abuse contradicted what Paul said.” [Acts 13:45] We witness the same responses today in town hall meetings, in churches, in “proclamations” from those in authority. Where is the love? How would I label these responses? Am I hearing people who like the sound of their own voices, or am I hearing the voice of God? We must note that the Jews have justifiable reasons for not accepting the apostolic preaching. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 states their case: “If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not remain on the tree overnight. You must bury it the same day: Anyone who is hanged is a curse of God.” Luke is expressing why most Jews do not accept God’s Jewish Messiah. Paul is much more sympathetic toward his fellow Jews than Luke. Confusion arises: Scripture interpretations draw different conclusions. So: WWJD? Jesus is God. How do I show God in my loving, in my forgiving, and in my mercy to others?

The Book of Revelation is very interesting and somewhat distinct: “On the one hand it does presume a final, ultimate battle between God and the force of evil. But as a victory based on the death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus (the slain lamb), Revelation also sees God’s triumph over evil as having been secured.” [From Living the Word: Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days]

In John, Jesus shares His life-giving actions in terms of shepherding. Jesus is the good shepherd who knows His sheep, intimately, and His sheep know Him … and their relationship means eternal life. No one can take them out of the Father’s hand. Eternal life is His pledge to His sheep, and Jesus extends this promise in John — if you have faith, live the commandments, and keep the commandments of loving God, our neighbors and ourselves.  

So I reflect on:

• How do I view God’s presence in my life now? Do I see that He always loves me and helps me for the purpose of being with Him in heaven forever?
• Sheep will follow only when they trust the shepherd. What does the voice of the shepherd sound like to me? To you?

Sacred Space 2025 states:

“In both the Old Testament and the New, the image and theme of God as the shepherd is very common. The relationship between us and Jesus our Shepherd is very close. He will never forsake us and He will lead us to eternal life. Let us spend some time in His company, and ask for complete trust in Him.”