Fourth Sunday of Easter – April 26, 2026
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday,” and for good reason. On this day the Church lifts up one of Scripture’s most comforting and hope‑filled images: Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd. The readings appointed for this Sunday gently and powerfully remind us who we are, whose we are, and where our life is found.
At the heart of this Sunday is the simple but profound truth that the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ shepherds His people. Scripture does not deny our wandering. St. Peter tells us plainly that we were once “straying like sheep,” lost and unable to rescue ourselves. Yet the wonder of Easter is that the Shepherd did not abandon His flock. Instead, He went all the way to the cross, bearing our sins in His own body, suffering willingly for our sake. By His wounds we are healed, restored, and brought back into the fold.
In the Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus speaks words that are both tender and bold: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved… I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Here the risen Christ reveals that Easter life is not merely about survival or getting by—it is about abundant life, the life that flows from forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and the sure hope of resurrection. Our Good Shepherd does not simply protect us from danger; He gives us life that overflows with grace.
This shepherding of Christ is not abstract or distant. The Book of Acts shows us how the risen Shepherd continues to care for His flock here and now. The early Christians are described as devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. These are not random activities; they are the very “green pastures” and “quiet waters” where Christ still feeds and sustains His sheep today. Through His Word preached, His Sacraments given, and the shared life of the Church, Jesus continues to gather, guard, and nourish His people.
It is also on this Sunday that we are reminded that the Good Shepherd still calls His sheep by name. “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” Amid the many voices that clamor for our attention, Christ’s voice remains clear and trustworthy. We hear it in the Gospel of forgiveness, in the promise spoken over us in Baptism, and in the mercy placed into our very hands and mouths at His table. Hearing His voice, we follow—not by compulsion or fear, but by faith and trust.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is, therefore, a celebration of belonging. We belong to Christ. We are part of one flock under one Shepherd. Our unity does not come from shared opinions or personalities but from the Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep and took it up again in victory. In Him, we are never alone, never forgotten, and never without care.
As we continue our Easter journey, may this Good Shepherd Sunday deepen our confidence and our joy. The risen Lord is not far off. He walks with us, leads us, and carries us through every valley. And because He lives, His flock lives also—secure, forgiven, and abundantly loved.
In the care of the Good Shepherd,
Your servant in Christ