SUNDAY REFLECTIONS | Fourth Sunday of Easter

By Social Communications

Published on May 11, 2025

John 10:27–30 — “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday, a time when the Church reflects on the tender and powerful image of Jesus as our Shepherd. In today’s short but rich Gospel passage, Jesus tells us something deeply personal and comforting about the relationship He has with each one of us.

He begins by saying, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” These words speak of closeness and familiarity. Jesus is not a distant leader or a strict ruler. He is a Shepherd who knows each of His sheep by name. He speaks, and His followers recognize His voice. Just as sheep come to trust the voice of the one who feeds and protects them, we, too, are called to know and trust the voice of Christ.

In our world today, there are many voices that try to get our attention—voices of fear, pride, selfishness, and confusion. But the voice of Jesus is different. It is gentle but firm. It speaks truth, even when it challenges us. It calls us to peace, to mercy, to love, and to trust in God. The more we pray, read Scripture, and receive the sacraments, the more we learn to recognize His voice in our hearts.

Jesus continues: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” This is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus does not only lead us during this life—He leads us into eternal life. He promises that those who follow Him will never be abandoned, never be lost, and never be separated from His love. This promise is not based on our strength, but on His faithfulness. He is the Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep, and now He offers them the fullness of life forever.

He adds, “No one can take them out of my hand.” What a powerful promise! No enemy, no suffering, no failure, and not even death can take us away from the love and care of Jesus. If we remain close to Him, we are safe—not in the sense of being free from pain, but in the deeper sense of being secure in God’s hands. Our hope is not in the world’s protection, but in Christ’s unshakable hold on us.

Jesus finishes with a revelation of His unity with the Father: “The Father and I are one.” This tells us that Jesus is not only the Shepherd—He is also God. To listen to Him is to listen to the voice of the Father. To follow Him is to walk in the path of divine love. He does not merely point us toward God—He brings God to us. He is the bridge between heaven and earth, the Shepherd who leads His flock to the heart of the Father.

This Sunday invites us to ask ourselves: Do I truly listen for the voice of Jesus in my life? Do I follow Him with trust, even when the path is difficult? Do I believe in His promise of eternal life, and rest in the security of His care?

In a world that often feels uncertain and divided, this Gospel offers peace and assurance. We are not alone. We are known, loved, and protected by the Good Shepherd. And if we stay close to Him, He will lead us safely home.