2026-04-26 Fourth Sunday of Easter
2026-04-26 Fourth Sunday of Easter
Opening prayer
Today Thursday April 23rd 2026 is the feast day of Martyrs St George and St. Adalbert of Prague
St. George, Martyr (d. 303 AD)was a Roman soldier of Greek origin and a member of the Praetorian Guard for Emperor Diocletian. He was executed for refusing to recant his Christian faith during the Diocletianic Persecution in 303 AD. He is the patron saint of England and is frequently depicted on horseback slaying a dragon with a sword. This is widely viewed as an allegory for the triumph of the Christian faith over evil (represented by the dragon) and the rescue of the Church (the princess).Let us being with a prayer to St George: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. George, Heroic soldier and defender of the Faith, you dared to criticize the tyrannical Emperor Diocletian and were willing to endure torture and death rather than deny God. Help us to be as brave as you in the defence of what is right. Help us to face our own 'modern dragons' with the armor of true faith and the sword of eternal truth. Protect us from the snares of evil and guide us to live with the same integrity and valour that you showed until your final breath. Amen.
Practice of Faith
- At mass, close your eyes and imagine Christ celebrating the Eucharist
- Spend time in Adoration
- Meditate on the Gospel and allow Jesus to appear to you on the road to Emmaus
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 -
Close your eyes and think what comes to mind when you hear phrases from the psalm ... it will show you how all-loving all-merciful all-caring our God is
The Lord is my Shepherd - Relationship! Leadership! Guardian! Protector! Pope Francis!
I shall not want - Supply! Listening! Complete satisfaction!
In verdant pastures he gives me repose - Rest! Gentleness! Security! Peace!
Beside restful waters he leads me - Guidance! Refreshment! Peace from turbulence! Tranquility!
He refreshes my soul - Forgiveness! Reconciliation! Healing!
He guides me in right paths - St Ignatius! Honesty! Trust! Guidance!
I shall not want - Supply! Listening! Complete satisfaction!
In verdant pastures he gives me repose - Rest! Gentleness! Security! Peace!
Beside restful waters he leads me - Guidance! Refreshment! Peace from turbulence! Tranquility!
He refreshes my soul - Forgiveness! Reconciliation! Healing!
He guides me in right paths - St Ignatius! Honesty! Trust! Guidance!
for His name sake - Purpose!
Even though I walk in the dark valley - Surrounded by Danger! Daily problems! Temptations! God is with me!
I fear no evil - I know he is always with me. Safe! Protection!
For you are at my side - Companionship! Embrace! God is my Ally! Faithfulness!
With your rod and your staff that give me courage - Spare no effort! Guidance! Protection! Discipline!
You spread a table before me in the sight of my foes - Providing! Hospitality! Hope! Unexpected Grace!
You anoint my head with oil - Consecration! Calming! Mary anointing her dead son's body! Healing! Feeling Privileged
My cup overflows - Story of my life!
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life - Mercy! Kindness! Faith! Blessing!
And I will be in the house of the Lord for years to come - Commitment! Peace! Assurance! Security! Eternity!
I fear no evil - I know he is always with me. Safe! Protection!
For you are at my side - Companionship! Embrace! God is my Ally! Faithfulness!
With your rod and your staff that give me courage - Spare no effort! Guidance! Protection! Discipline!
You spread a table before me in the sight of my foes - Providing! Hospitality! Hope! Unexpected Grace!
You anoint my head with oil - Consecration! Calming! Mary anointing her dead son's body! Healing! Feeling Privileged
My cup overflows - Story of my life!
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life - Mercy! Kindness! Faith! Blessing!
And I will be in the house of the Lord for years to come - Commitment! Peace! Assurance! Security! 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.
Imaginative prayer on John's Pentecostal Gospel
My name is Kieran, a devout Jew who travels to Jerusalem three times a year as is required by Jewish law and this is my eyewitness testimony of the events of the first Pentecost.
I had come to celebrate the Jewish feast of 'Shavuot' or Festival of weeks after the conclusion of 50 days since Passover, where we celebrated the end of the barley harvest, plus the beginning of the wheat harvest. We also celebrate the giving of the Torah or law to our Father Moses.
This year felt different, there was a lot of fear and uncertainty following the events of the Passover when the Rabbi Jesus from Nazareth, who many hoped would be the Messiah, was tortured and crucified but was said to have returned from the dead.
I heard from my friend Mark that there was to be a special prayer meeting at his house and he asked me to come in secret because they were still afraid of the Sanhedrin, who I didn't care much for. But I am old enough to know that in these dangerous times, it is best to be cautious and I fully trusted Mark who I knew from childhood, having stayed at his home many times.
It was a cold night. Also extremely still with no wind at all but when I got to Mark's house it was overflowing with people, there must have been hundreds of Jews from all over the known world - so much for keeping a secret.
And judging by the way the faithful dressed and spoke, they must have included Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, Cappadocians, as also Jews from Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene
The atmosphere was electric and my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst. I stood there for a long time just soaking in the energy of the room. I knew I had to find Mark so I went to the Upper room where I saw him conversing at the centre of the group of Galileans. He introduced me to them including to someone who was the Blessed Mother of the recently crucified Rabbi from Nazareth. I also met some of his closest Apostles and disciples.
The Blessed Mother looked angelic, intuitively I felt that she was the Matriarch of the group so I made sure to stand close enough to her, in case she would address the audience.
Suddenly a strong wind blew through the whole house - it was very scary because it was a very still night and we had shut all the doors and windows. I pulled up the collar of my coat and buttoned it up, when suddenly there appeared a burning flame that settled on each of us. I tried to touch it but my hand just passed right through it and it did not burn my hand.
I immediately felt all my fear and trepidation leave me and my mind became calm filled with a peace I had never experienced before. Like I received infinite energy and power though I did not know where it came from.
Suddenly all the multitude of noises became clear and I could hear everyone as if they were speaking in Greek, even though their lips were uttering words in a language I did not understand.
Someone stood up and asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?"
One of the Apostles whose name was Petros (or Simeon in Hebrew and Cephas in Aramaic) stood up and gave a fiery testimony about Jesus Christ being the Messiah who was unjustly killed but who had promised to send down the Spirit if only people repented for their sins and believed in his Gospel.
I had to pinch myself, because I spoke no Aramaic or Hebrew, yet I could hear this fisherman Petros from Galilee speak perfect Greek.
Petros said, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Here's the crazy part, everything he said made perfect sense. All my fears and doubts were replaced with purpose and a strong desire to bear witness.
Suddenly I felt like a million shekel. Charged with an energy to go back to my town and proclaim this wonderful good news of salvation to the whole world. The promise made by Yahweh to our Father Abraham had indeed been fulfilled in the being of Jesus Christ - all we had to do is love God above all else and love one another as Jesus loved us.
I went over to the Blessed Mother and asked her for her blessings before departing back home to preach the Gospel.
I had come to celebrate the Jewish feast of 'Shavuot' or Festival of weeks after the conclusion of 50 days since Passover, where we celebrated the end of the barley harvest, plus the beginning of the wheat harvest. We also celebrate the giving of the Torah or law to our Father Moses.
This year felt different, there was a lot of fear and uncertainty following the events of the Passover when the Rabbi Jesus from Nazareth, who many hoped would be the Messiah, was tortured and crucified but was said to have returned from the dead.
I heard from my friend Mark that there was to be a special prayer meeting at his house and he asked me to come in secret because they were still afraid of the Sanhedrin, who I didn't care much for. But I am old enough to know that in these dangerous times, it is best to be cautious and I fully trusted Mark who I knew from childhood, having stayed at his home many times.
It was a cold night. Also extremely still with no wind at all but when I got to Mark's house it was overflowing with people, there must have been hundreds of Jews from all over the known world - so much for keeping a secret.
And judging by the way the faithful dressed and spoke, they must have included Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, Cappadocians, as also Jews from Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene
The atmosphere was electric and my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst. I stood there for a long time just soaking in the energy of the room. I knew I had to find Mark so I went to the Upper room where I saw him conversing at the centre of the group of Galileans. He introduced me to them including to someone who was the Blessed Mother of the recently crucified Rabbi from Nazareth. I also met some of his closest Apostles and disciples.
The Blessed Mother looked angelic, intuitively I felt that she was the Matriarch of the group so I made sure to stand close enough to her, in case she would address the audience.
Suddenly a strong wind blew through the whole house - it was very scary because it was a very still night and we had shut all the doors and windows. I pulled up the collar of my coat and buttoned it up, when suddenly there appeared a burning flame that settled on each of us. I tried to touch it but my hand just passed right through it and it did not burn my hand.
I immediately felt all my fear and trepidation leave me and my mind became calm filled with a peace I had never experienced before. Like I received infinite energy and power though I did not know where it came from.
Suddenly all the multitude of noises became clear and I could hear everyone as if they were speaking in Greek, even though their lips were uttering words in a language I did not understand.
Someone stood up and asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?"
One of the Apostles whose name was Petros (or Simeon in Hebrew and Cephas in Aramaic) stood up and gave a fiery testimony about Jesus Christ being the Messiah who was unjustly killed but who had promised to send down the Spirit if only people repented for their sins and believed in his Gospel.
I had to pinch myself, because I spoke no Aramaic or Hebrew, yet I could hear this fisherman Petros from Galilee speak perfect Greek.
Petros said, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Here's the crazy part, everything he said made perfect sense. All my fears and doubts were replaced with purpose and a strong desire to bear witness.
Suddenly I felt like a million shekel. Charged with an energy to go back to my town and proclaim this wonderful good news of salvation to the whole world. The promise made by Yahweh to our Father Abraham had indeed been fulfilled in the being of Jesus Christ - all we had to do is love God above all else and love one another as Jesus loved us.
I went over to the Blessed Mother and asked her for her blessings before departing back home to preach the Gospel.
Practice of Faith
- Imaginative prayer of Pentecost
- Do you judge others who have sinned and think they should not be forgiven?
- Do you forgive otherw who have offended you and offer them the peace of God's mercy?
- Spend time reflecting on the mercy of God and give him thanks
Closing Prayer: The Easter Collect
O God, who for the salvation of the world brought about the paschal sacrifice, be favorable to the supplications of your people, so that Christ our High Priest, interceding on our behalf, may by his likeness to ourselves bring us reconciliation, and by his equality with you free us from our sins.
Grant us the courage of your martyrs, St. George and St. Adalbert, that we may witness to the truth of the Gospel in all we do today. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Grant us the courage of your martyrs, St. George and St. Adalbert, that we may witness to the truth of the Gospel in all we do today. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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