4 th Sunday of Easter (Year C)
Scripture: Acts 13:14, 43-52; Ps. 100:1-5; Rev. 7:9, 14 b- 17; Jn. 10:27-30
In the Catholic Church’s teachings, it is affirmed that Jesus entrusted us with the
mandate to proclaim His Gospel universally. This mandate asserts the right of
every person to know about Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. The Second
Vatican Council emphasized that all people have this right, and Christians are
called to share the Good News with everyone, without exception.
Building on this foundation, St. Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic exhortation
Redemptoris Missio, reiterated that every individual has the right to hear the
Gospel, which reveals God’s self-giving in Christ and leads to the fulfillment of
divine and human destiny.
The liturgy of the fourth Sunday calls us to recognize our primary mission: to
make the risen Christ known to all corners of the world. Jesus Himself exemplified inclusivity in His ministry, reaching out to Samaritans, gentiles, tax collectors, sinners, the sick, and the poor. His death and resurrection were not limited to a select group but were for all humanity.
The Gospel of John underscores Jesus’ universal kingship, portraying Him as
the shepherd of all, not bound by blood, familiarity, religion, or clan, but by a
relationship of love and guidance. Those who heed His voice find fulfillment
and protection in His care.
Early Christians, following Jesus’ example, began spreading the Gospel first
among the Jews and then among the Gentiles when the former were reluctant.
St. Paul and St. Barnabas notably turned to the Gentiles in Antioch, realizing
that salvation through Christ is meant for all. This universal invitation was
echoed in St. John’s vision, where people from every nation and tongue gather
to glorify God.
Today, the Church, guided by Late Pope Francis’ Evangelium Gaudium, affirms
its missionary nature. Evangelization, the joyful sharing of the Gospel, is the
Church’s task, with no one excluded from its message of hope and salvation.
Each baptized person contributes to this mission, embodying the Church’s
responsibility to spread the Good News to all corners of the earth.
May we, like Sts. Paul and Barnabas, embrace our role as witnesses to the
resurrection and boldly proclaim the Gospel to everyone we encounter, growing
in confidence and joy as we fulfill Christ’s universal mission.
