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Gospel Reading for April 26, 2026 – John 10: 1-10
ALL AUTHORITY
Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
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When God created human beings, we were entirely His. He is the Shepherd, and we are his sheep. Yet the thief—the evil one—sought to steal the sheep from the Shepherd. And so the flock was scattered, wandering in every direction, without guidance or protection.
In his great love, God sent his Son, Jesus, to be the Good Shepherd—to seek out the lost, gather them, and bring them back into the fold forever. As it is written in the Gospel of Matthew 9: 36, we see the Shepherd in the heart of Jesus:
“Seeing the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Through Jesus, God restores what was lost. No longer are we left scattered and vulnerable. In him, we are gathered, known, and kept secure. The thief has no lasting claim over the flock, for ALL AUTHORITY belongs to Christ.
Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, help us to always hear your voice, to follow you faithfully, and to remain always within your loving care!
