Scripture readings, reflection

By Fr. Andrew Kelly
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – APRIL 21
To believe in John’s Gospel means that believers have a profound, deep, personal living relationship with Jesus Christ.  Because the relationship is living it is never static but always changing and growing deeper and deeper.
Faith is something akin to lovers growing deeper and deeper in love day by day. The love is so strong it becomes almost eternal, as it seems the love cannot die.
The faith/love relationship between Jesus, disciples and God is what John is describing in Sunday’s Gospel (John 10:27-30).
Lovers hear and recognize each other’s voices. Their knowledge of one another is total physical and emotional intimacy that is so profound it is beyond words. Lovers become one as Jesus is one with the Holy One.
Lovers attach themselves to each other to such an extent they become disciples of one another following each other as sheep follow the shepherd.
Lovers know exactly what Jesus is talking about when Jesus says: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Years ago there was a bumper sticker that read: “Virginia is for Lovers.” The bumper sticker got it wrong. “Easter is for Lovers. Alleluia! Alleluia!  Alleluia!”
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)

Scripture Readings for April 21-28
Sunday
Acts 13:14, 43-52
Rev 7:9, 14b-17
Jn 10:27-30
Monday
Acts 11:1-18
Jn 10:1-10
Tuesday
Acts 11:19-26
Jn 10:22-30
Wednesday
Acts 12:24—13:5a
Jn 12:44-50
Thursday
1 Pt 5:5b-14
Mk 16:15-20
Friday
Acts 13:26-33
Jn 14:1-6
Saturday
Acts 13:44-52
Jn 14:7-14
Sunday
Acts 14:21-27
Rev 21:1-5a
Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35