The 30th of April, 2023 is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the Year 2023 of Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: ACTS 2:14A, 36-41
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 23: 1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6
Response: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
R: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
R: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
R: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
R: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
Reading 2: 1 PT 2:20B-25
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Peter.
But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.
For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”
When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.
For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Gospel of the Day: JN 10:1-10
From the gospel verse according to John.
“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.
But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.
I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.
The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”
