Scripture Study for

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

This week’s first reading continues from last week. After Peter  has declared that the lame man was healed through the power of  Jesus, the religious leaders have Peter and John arrested for teaching  and proclaiming resurrection of the dead in Jesus (4:1–3). Now they  question Peter, who responds by ironically wondering aloud that he  and John have been dragged before the authorities for doing a good  deed, a point that highlights the parallel between the apostles and  Jesus himself, who was also interrogated after doing good deeds.  Peter then repeats that it was in the name of Jesus that the man was  healed. All salvation (healing, forgiveness, well-being, deliverance)  comes only through Jesus. 

In his First Letter, John has been exhorting his audience to follow  God’s commandments. He has also assured them that if they do sin,  yet “abide in Christ,” they will be saved because in Christ believers  have been made children of God. The world, that is, that aspect of  human society that is opposed to God, does not recognize this great  dignity in Christians, and Christians themselves may have difficulty  recognizing their own status as God’s children. Just as a human  child is like the parents and also the siblings, so children of God are  growing into the likeness of God and of Christ. This reality is still  obscure, but one day this perception will become clear, and then  Christians will see more clearly who they themselves are, as children  of God and siblings of Christ. 

The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd has deep roots in the  story of Israel. The metaphor of shepherd was standard for kings  and religious leaders, who were expected to guide Israel in the ways  of God, and thus protect them from spiritual and social harm. In  Ezekiel, God accuses the shepherds not only of leaving the people  at the mercy of the wolves, but of ravaging them themselves. In  response, God promises to shepherd the people himself (34:1–31).  Jesus, then, is taking up this divine role, to the point of even laying  down his life for the sheep, rather than allow them to stray or suffer.  Jesus also alludes to the fact that God’s flock is not confined to  Israel, and that one of Jesus’ tasks is to unite all of God’s flock into  one under his (Jesus’) care.

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