1st Reading – Acts 4:8-12
As Peter and John spoke to the people at Solomon’s Portico (last week’s reading) the priests, the captain of the Temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them. The teaching of Peter and John upset them because the apostles were teaching that in Jesus there was resurrection of the dead – a doctrine specifically rejected by the Sadducees. Peter and John were seized and held overnight in jail (meanwhile, the numbers of men who believed grew to five thousand). The next day Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin. What we hear today is Peter’s address to the Sanhedrin. It is an apology of the faith rather than a sermon. After this address to the Sanhedrin Peter and John were released.
2nd Reading – 1 John 3:1-2
Having taught about repentance and re-ordering of our lives to follow Our Father’s plan, John now teaches what it means to be a part of God’s covenant family. Affirming the present reality of God’s love in making the Christians “children of God” has three consequences: 1) Christians do not belong to the world, which failed to receive Jesus. 2) Christians will lead lives of holiness like Christ. 3) Christians are confident of an even greater salvation in the future.
Gospel – John 10:11-18
This Sunday is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of this reading. In the ancient Middle East, shepherds did not “drive” their sheep, they led them. The sheep were very close to the shepherd, almost like pets. They knew the voice of their own shepherd, and would only follow him. The shepherd led them to food and water; he protected them from predators; he searched for them when they were lost. Jesus is our Good Shepherd, He provides for us, protects us, saves us from danger.
Bible Study Guide from Fr. Cielo Almazan
