Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A)

First Reading - Acts 3.1-19

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Peter and John went up to the temple at the time of the afternoon prayers. They saw a man who had been lame from birth being carried to one of the temple gates, where he would beg each day as people entered the temple. Peter and John looked at him intently. Peter said, ‘Look at us’. And he looked up, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, ‘I have no gold or silver, but I will give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!’ Taking him by the hand, Peter helped him up, and immediately, the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He stood up, and began to walk. And he entered the temple, holding on to Peter and John, walking, even jumping, and giving thanks to God. People began to gather around, amazed, when they saw him, and recognised him as the man who sat begging at the temple gate. Peter addressed those who gathered, saying: “People of Israel, do not be surprised by what you see. We have no power or godliness to make this man walk. But by this sign, the God of our ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is glorifying Jesus, the faithful son of God - the one you handed over to Pilate, and rejected even when Pilate offered to release him. You rejected the holy and righteous one, asking for a murderer instead. You killed the prince of life. But God raised him from the dead. And now, it is by faith in the name of Jesus that this man has been healed, and made strong. I know that you, and your leaders, acted in ignorance; but this is how God fulfilled all that is written in the prophets, that the Messiah would suffer. So repent, now; turn again; and your sins will be forgiven.’ This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - 1 Peter 2.20-25

A reading from the first letter of Peter. It is not a virtue, if you endure when you are punished for doing wrong. But if you endure when you suffer for doing right, that is a worthy sacrifice, for you are following the example of Christ, who suffered for you. As it says in the scriptures, ‘He committed no sin, in word or deed.’ When he was abused, he gave no insult in return. When he suffered, he did not curse, but trusted in the one who is the righteous judge of all. It was for our sins that he suffered, in his body, on the cross. It is by his wounds that we are healed. And it is by his worthy sacrifice that we can now be dead to sin, and alive to righteousness. Like sheep, we were going astray; but now, we have returned to the one who is the shepherd and guardian of our lives. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - John 10.1-10

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘When the shepherd goes to the sheepfold, the gatekeeper welcomes him in. The shepherd then calls his sheep by name, and leads them out. And they follow him, because they know his voice. The thief climbs in another way, but the sheep will not follow him. They keep away from him, because they do not know his voice.’ The Pharisees did not understand what Jesus was saying to them. So Jesus said to them, ‘I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters by the gate will be safe, free to come in, and go out, and find pasture. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, coming only to steal, and kill, and destroy. But the sheep did not listen to them. I came that they may have life, and life in all its fullness.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.