2026-04-26 Fourth Sunday of Easter
2026-04-26 Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Peter's testimony was delivered on the feast of Shavu’ot (a Hebrew word meaning “weeks,” a Jewish harvest festival 50 days after 50 days after the second day of Passover. This period marks the grain harvest and commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. This feast was also known in the first century as Pentecost or 50th day).
Peter's advice is
1) Repentance: This is one of the main themes in Acts, and indeed is a hallmark of Jesus’ community of followers. True repentance is the precursor to the forgiveness of sins. This gives us the grace to turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. It is changing our mind and actions to reposition our lives toward God and to align our actions more closely with the will of God.
2) Baptism: Anyone who calls upon the name of God, Jew or Gentile, will receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.
A lot of today's reading is summarised in the last stanza of the Apostles’ Creed, which traditionally reads, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.”
- The holy catholic Church refers to all faithful in the universal Church the living body of Christ, not just Roman Catholics
- The communion of Saints: Catholics pray for the intercession of deceased saints who have found favour with God. Protestants believe this is the entire community of believers both past and present connected to one another in Christ.
- The forgiveness of sins refers to state of pure grace in communion with God - the most holy of holies. When we are in a state of sin, we cannot simultaneously be in a state of grace.
Peter's advice is
1) Repentance: This is one of the main themes in Acts, and indeed is a hallmark of Jesus’ community of followers. True repentance is the precursor to the forgiveness of sins. This gives us the grace to turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. It is changing our mind and actions to reposition our lives toward God and to align our actions more closely with the will of God.
2) Baptism: Anyone who calls upon the name of God, Jew or Gentile, will receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.
A lot of today's reading is summarised in the last stanza of the Apostles’ Creed, which traditionally reads, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.”
- The holy catholic Church refers to all faithful in the universal Church the living body of Christ, not just Roman Catholics
- The communion of Saints: Catholics pray for the intercession of deceased saints who have found favour with God. Protestants believe this is the entire community of believers both past and present connected to one another in Christ.
- The forgiveness of sins refers to state of pure grace in communion with God - the most holy of holies. When we are in a state of sin, we cannot simultaneously be in a state of grace.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd - That’s Relationship!
I shall not want - That’s Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That’s Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters - That’s Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul - That’s Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That’s Guidance!
For His name sake - That’s Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That’s Testing!
I will fear no evil - That’s Protection!
For Thou art with me - That’s Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That's Discipline!
Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That’s Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil - That’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over - That’s Abundence.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That’s Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - That’s Security!
Forever - That’s Eternity!
I shall not want - That’s Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That’s Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters - That’s Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul - That’s Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That’s Guidance!
For His name sake - That’s Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That’s Testing!
I will fear no evil - That’s Protection!
For Thou art with me - That’s Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That's Discipline!
Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That’s Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil - That’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over - That’s Abundence.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That’s Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - That’s Security!
Forever - That’s Eternity!
1 Peter 2:20b-25
Suffering is part of our salvation story. The fallacy of a fickle faith is to expect no problems in exchange for faith in God. The reality is far more nuanced. Both Jesus and Mother Mary were innocent, yet both suffered unimaginable pain but by keeping faith in the Father they were given the strength to carry their cross, drink the cup and be a shining example for the rest of us. Even the Saints, holy though they are, live a life full of hardships.
Here are examples that are within our reach: to hold our peace when we are abused (lied about, insulted, defamed), to refrain from responding in kind when we suffer “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” to entrust ourselves—in every situation—to our God … these are things that we, like Jesus, can do.
Here are examples that are within our reach: to hold our peace when we are abused (lied about, insulted, defamed), to refrain from responding in kind when we suffer “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” to entrust ourselves—in every situation—to our God … these are things that we, like Jesus, can do.
John 10:1-10
While John 10:1-5 offers a cast of characters that will receive attention as the chapter unfolds: shepherd, sheep, thieves, bandits, gatekeeper, strangers, and yes, even the gate.
John 10:7-9 is all about Jesus as the gate. Twice, 10:7 and 10:9, Jesus reveals himself to be the gate for the sheep before saying he is the shepherd of the sheep. The image of the gate draws on the notion of inside and outside. Whoever enters and leaves the sheepfold, through Jesus will be saved, will be able to go in and out and find green pasture.
in John 10:10. The character of the thief returns alone, this time as the one who come seeking to take what is not rightfully theirs. They steal, kill and destroy. In contrast, Jesus comes to provide abundant life.
John 10:7-9 is all about Jesus as the gate. Twice, 10:7 and 10:9, Jesus reveals himself to be the gate for the sheep before saying he is the shepherd of the sheep. The image of the gate draws on the notion of inside and outside. Whoever enters and leaves the sheepfold, through Jesus will be saved, will be able to go in and out and find green pasture.
in John 10:10. The character of the thief returns alone, this time as the one who come seeking to take what is not rightfully theirs. They steal, kill and destroy. In contrast, Jesus comes to provide abundant life.
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