HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Apr 26, 2026

170

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First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:14a, 36-41)

Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: "Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter said to them, "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. For the promised is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted this message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6)

(R) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures He gives me repose; beside restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul. (R)

He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R)

You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R)

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the First Letter of Saint Peter (2:20b-25)

Beloved: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the Gospel according to John (10:1-10)

Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognized the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Once, Albert Einstein, one of the greatest scientists in history, was travelling by train to a speaking engagement. As the train conductor came by to check tickets, Einstein calmly began searching for his own - in his jacket pockets, his trousers, and his small bag. Noticing this, the conductor gently said, "Dr Einstein, there is no need to worry. I know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket." Einstein nodded with gratitude, and the conductor went on. But just before leaving the carriage, he glanced back and saw Einstein on his knees, still searching for his ticket under the seat. Curious, the conductor returned and repeated, "Sir, there's really no problem. Everyone knows who you are." Einstein looked up and replied calmly, "Thank you. I too know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going. That's why I need the ticket."

While the story is both humorous and humbling, the lesson is timeless: Knowing who you are doesn't always mean knowing where you're headed. The question is: Do you know who you are... and do you know where you're going? Today's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:14a, 36-41) acts as powerful foundational text defining Christian identity and ultimate destination.

Jewish religious leaders led by the High Priest Caiaphas arrested Jesus, held a trial and found him guilty of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. Since they lacked authority to execute Him under Roman rule, they brought him to Pilate, the Roman governor, on political charges of sedition, accusing him to be a king who opposed Caesar, subverter of the nation, and a troublemaker who forbade the paying of taxes to Rome, Luke (23). Pilate repeatedly declared Jesus innocent and made several attempts to release him, including offering to release him instead of a "notorious criminal" named Barabbas. Persuaded by the chief priests, the crowd demanded the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. Fearing a riot and wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate ordered the crucifixion of Jesus, and Roman soldiers carried out the execution, Luke (23:4, 14) and John (18:38, 19:46).

After Jesus' resurrection and receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the apostle Peter addressed the crowd in Jerusalem, proclaiming that "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Upon hearing this, the people were "cut to the heart." In other words, when Peter reminded the people of their part in Jesus' crucifixion, they were deeply moved and distressed. They felt tremendous guilt and shame over what they had done. Realizing they had helped kill the innocent, the chosen Messiah, they were desperate for a remedy and wanted to know how to set things right.

Peter responded to their desperation by telling them to do two things, to "repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ."

First, Peter's command for the people to "repent" in Greek "metanoia" went beyond simply feeling sorry for their actions. It was a profound call for a 180-degree turn - a complete change of mind and direction regarding Jesus Christ. In other words, they needed to change their minds about Jesus of Nazareth. They previously viewed Him as a mere man, a carpenter's son, a sabbath breaker, a healer, a teacher, a blasphemer, or a criminal. But Peter demanded that they must truly understand and accept that Jesus is the long-awaited Anointed One, the Messiah or Christ prophesied in the Old Testament. Repentance also meant stopping their pursuit of sin, selfish desires, and old ways of life and turning toward God. They were to separate themselves from the "corrupt generation", 2 Peter (2:40), which meant leaving behind unbelieving, rebellious culture, and aligning with the new community of believers.

Second, Peter's command for the people to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ meant (i) an outward sign of their inward change, (ii) a necessary, visible act of identification with the crucified and risen Christ, as His followers. Peter also pointed out that repentance and baptism would lead to two specific spiritual results. (1) They would receive forgiveness of sins. This means they would be released from the guilt and penalty of their sins specifically the charge of crucifying the Messiah. (2) They would receive the Holy Spirit, which would serve as an abiding presence in their life, enabling them to break free from the habitual power of sin and live in holiness. Peter further assured them that this would be extended to their children, and "all who are far off", meaning the gifts of salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the Holy Spirit are not limited to the Jewish believers present in Jerusalem, but are extended to all people, including Gentiles, distant lands and future generations, and even those estranged from God due to sin, who are brought near through God's call. This signifies that the gospel's outreach is both geographically and temporarily limitless echoing the Old Testament promises to the nations and the prophet Isaiah, "peace to those far and near", 2 Peter (57:19).

Thus, Peter urged the people to start their spiritual salvation journey by accepting Jesus Christ and saving themselves from the moral corruption, perverse ideologies, and divine judgment of their surrounding society. At the end, the writer records that about 3,000 people were added to the group of believers on the day of Pentecost, following Peter's preaching.

What is the message for us?

Our Christian life is anchored in two core truths: Who we are and where we are going. When we say "who we are," we are referring to the spiritual, unchanging identity rooted in our relationship with God, rather than temporary earthly markers, such as name or profession, and when we say, "where we are going," we are referring to our ultimate spiritual destination after death, which is centred on spending eternity in the presence of God. Understanding these truths is essential because both are deeply interconnected, moving together in parallel. Neglecting either or living without the other will inevitably lead to a disconnected faith, spiritual stagnation, profound insecurity, lack of peace, and ultimately an empty, meaningless existence.
As human beings we are all weighed down by life's burdens or challenges. You have yours and I have mine. The burden may be declining health or chronic illness or death of a loved one or marital breakdown or pressure from work or financial strain, and so on. Many of life's burdens are impossible to remove entirely on our own, no matter how hard we try. This feeling of helplessness often leads to a sense of being overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, depressed, angry, and alone. However, while the world (non-believers) may face the burdens with fear or self-reliance, we, believers, don't need to fear or carry them alone.

Instead, we can find relief, strength, and comfort through many ways: (1) We can take those burdens to God in prayer, Psalm (55:22) and 1 Peter 5:7). (2) We can take refuge in Jesus' invitation to "come to Him to find rest for our weary souls", Matthew (11:28-30). (3) We can help carry each other's burdens as part of the family of God, fulfilling "the law of Christ", Galatians (6:2). (4) We can rely on God's sustaining grace, 2 Corinthians (12:9) and accept the burdens as divine opportunities for growth, transformation, and deeper purpose rather than just obstacles to overcome.

Beyond the immediate physical and mental burdens, there is another burden that we all bear. It is a burden that no one, especially, we, as believers in Christ, needs to carry (much less alone) any farther. It is the burden of all burdens, ultimately the most real and heaviest burden. If it is removed, all other burdens we face will become light. This is the "burden of sin", Psalm (38:4). If we are left to bear this load, it will crush our spirit, rob us of our peace, distort our vision, cause shame and guilt, and lead to increased sense of isolation from God and others. Therefore, as the early Christians did, we must first, recognize that we are God's children by creation, but sinners by nature, requiring grace to restore that relationship.

Second, let us stop blaming circumstances or other people, and instead, in humility, confess our sins, turn from self-serving life, believe in Jesus as our Lord and Christ, and receive the gifts of forgiveness and the Holy Spriit marked by baptism. Third, let us truly prepare ourselves for our ultimate destination - eternal life in the presence of God - by actively detaching ourselves from the unbelieving, "corrupt" or "perverse" world, trusting completely in Jesus Christ, and living out that faith publicly through obedience to His commands.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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