Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:8-12 (JB)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

This is the only name by which we can be saved.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter said: ‘Rulers of the people, and elders! If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a cripple, and asking us how he was healed, then I am glad to tell you all, and would indeed be glad to tell the whole people of Israel, that it was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the one you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up perfectly healthy, here in your presence today. This is the stone rejected by you the builders, but which has proved to be the keystone. For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Acts 4:8-12 (NRSV)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

While Peter and John were speaking

to the people about the resurrection of Jesus,

the captain of the temple arrested them and placed them in custody.

The next day the rulers, elders and scribes assembled.

When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired,

“By what power or by what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,

“Rulers of the people and elders,

if we are questioned today

because of a good deed done to someone who was sick

and are asked how this man has been healed,

let it be known to all of you,

and to all the people of Israel,

that this man is standing before you in good health

by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom you crucified,

whom God raised from the dead.

“This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you,

the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’

There is salvation in no one else,

for there is no other name under heaven

given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 117:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28-29 (JB)

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner stone.

or

R. Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

for his love has no end.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in men:

it is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes. R.

I will thank you for you have given answer

and you are my saviour.

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the corner stone.

This is the work of the Lord,

a marvel in our eyes. R.

Blessed in the name of the Lord

is he who comes.

We bless you from the house of the Lord;

I will thank you for you have given answer

and you are my saviour.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;

for his love has no end. R.

1 John 3:1-2 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St John

We shall see God as he is.

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,

by letting us be called God’s children;

and that is what we are.

Because the world refused to acknowledge him,

therefore it does not acknowledge us.

My dear people, we are already the children of God

but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;

all we know is, that when it is revealed

we shall be like him

because we shall see him as he really is.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 John 3:1-2 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of John

See what love the Father has given us,

that we should be called children of God;

and that is what we are.

The reason the world does not know us

is that it did not know him.

Beloved, we are God’s children now;

what we will be has not yet been revealed.

What we do know is this:

when he is revealed, we will be like him,

for we will see him as he is.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

John 10:14 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;

I know my sheep, and mine know me.

Alleluia!

John 10:14 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;

I know my sheep, and mine know me.

Alleluia!

John 10:11-18 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.

Jesus said:

‘I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.

The hired man, since he is not the shepherd

and the sheep do not belong to him,

abandons the sheep and runs away

as soon as he sees a wolf coming,

and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep;

this is because he is only a hired man

and has no concern for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd;

I know my own

and my own know me,

just as the Father knows me

and I know the Father;

and I lay down my life for my sheep.

And there are other sheep I have

that are not of this fold,

and these I have to lead as well.

They too will listen to my voice,

and there will be only one flock

and one shepherd.

The Father loves me,

because I lay down my life

in order to take it up again.

No one takes it from me;

I lay it down of my own free will,

and as it is in my power to lay it down,

so it is in my power to take it up again;

and this is the command I have been given by my Father.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 10:11-18 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to John

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

“I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

The hired hand, who is not the shepherd

and does not own the sheep,

sees the wolf coming

and leaves the sheep and runs away-

and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

The hired hand runs away

because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd.

I know my own and my own know me,

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.

And I lay down my life for the sheep.

I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.

I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.

So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

“For this reason the Father loves me,

because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.

No one takes it from me,

but I lay it down of my own accord.

I have power to lay it down,

and I have power to take it up again.

I have received this command from my Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.