This document provides materials for a Bible study on the 4th Sunday of Easter, including summaries and commentary on the readings. The first reading from Acts describes Peter proclaiming that Jesus healed the crippled man. The second reading from 1 John discusses being called children of God through his love. The Gospel reading contrasts Jesus as the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, to the hired man who runs away when danger comes. The materials are intended to aid focusing the homily and sharing.

1. Welcome to our
Bible Study
4th Sunday of Easter B
26 April 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielito R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st Reading: Acts 4:8-12
• 8 Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered
them, "Leaders of the people and elders: 9 If we
are being examined today about a good deed
done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was
saved, 10 then all of you and all the people of
Israel should know that it was in the name of
Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified,
whom God raised from the dead; in his name this
man stands before you healed. 11 He is 'the
stone rejected by you, the builders, which has
become the cornerstone.' 12 There is no
salvation through anyone else, nor is there any
other name under heaven given to the human
race by which we are to be saved."

3. 1st Reading: Acts 4:8-12
• 8 Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered
them, "Leaders of the people and elders: 9 If we
are being examined today about a good deed
done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was
saved, 10 then all of you and all the people of
Israel should know that it was in the name of
Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified,
whom God raised from the dead; in his name this
man stands before you healed. 11 He is 'the
stone rejected by you, the builders, which has
become the cornerstone.' 12 There is no
salvation through anyone else, nor is there any
other name under heaven given to the human
race by which we are to be saved."
The focus is Jesus Christ risen from the dead.

4. 1st Reading: Acts 4:8-12
Issue: Who healed the cripple?
• 8 Then Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered them,
"Leaders of the people and elders: 9 If we are being
examined today about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
Answer
• 10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom
you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name
this man stands before you healed. 11 He is 'the stone
rejected by you, the builders, which has become the
cornerstone.' 12 There is no salvation through anyone
else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to
the human race by which we are to be saved."
A simple outline!

5. 1st Reading: Acts 4:8-12
Issue: Who healed?
• 8 Peter, filled with the holy
Spirit, answered them,
"Leaders of the people and
elders: 9 If we are being
examined today about a
good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he
was saved,
Answer
• 10 then all of you and all the
people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of
Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom
God raised from the dead; in
his name this man stands
before you healed. 11 He is
'the stone rejected by you,
the builders, which has
become the cornerstone.' 12
There is no salvation through
anyone else, nor is there any
other name under heaven
given to the human race by
which we are to be saved."
Commentary
Setting: Read Acts 3,1-8 (healing of
the crippled) to understand the
background of this reading.
• You may read further to
understand the immediate context
of our text.
• The question which Peter answers
is "By what power or by what
name have you done this?" (Acts
4,7)
• In v.8, Peter addresses himself to
the leaders and elders of Israel.
• V.8 gives a description of Peter:
filled with the holy Spirit.
• Peter answers with the power of
the Holy Spirit.
• V.9 explains why the apostles are
being interrogated, triggered by
the healing of the cripple.

6. 1st Reading: Acts 4:8-12
Issue: Who healed?
• 8 Peter, filled with the holy
Spirit, answered them,
"Leaders of the people and
elders: 9 If we are being
examined today about a
good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he
was saved,
Answer
• 10 then all of you and all the
people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of
Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom
God raised from the dead; in
his name this man stands
before you healed. 11 He is
'the stone rejected by you,
the builders, which has
become the cornerstone.' 12
There is no salvation through
anyone else, nor is there any
other name under heaven
given to the human race by
which we are to be saved."
• In v.10, Peter turns their questioning
into an opportunity to preach Jesus.
• Peter’s answer is the kerygma (v.10)
• Kergyma is the preaching which
centers on Christ-event (Christ’s
crucifixion, death and resurrection)
• V.11 compares Jesus to a cornerstone
which the leaders have rejected.
• In v.12, Peter is emphatic on the role
of Jesus.
• It is through him (through his name)
that we are saved.

7. Reflections on the 1st reading
• We shun from interrogation or being put into the
limelight.
• We can turn this uneasiness into a wonderful
opportunity to proclaim our faith (wisdom) in
Christ.
• Under pressure, we can stand for our faith and
lead other people into light.
• We can only defend our faith and God’s actions on
us, if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, like Peter.
• Similarly, we can also make use of our misfortunes
and sickness to proclaim God’s power.
• We should rather shun from talking about Jesus, if
we are not spirit-filled and spirit-led.
• All talks about Jesus and his miracles are empty if
we are not backed up by our true faith in Christ
and the Spirit.

8. 2nd reading: 1 John 3:1-2
• 1 See what love the Father has bestowed
on us that we may be called the children
of God. Yet so we are. The reason the
world does not know us is that it did not
know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's
children now; what we shall be has not
yet been revealed. We do know that when
it is revealed we shall be like him, for we
shall see him as he is.

9. 2nd reading: 1 John 3:1-2
• 1 See what love the Father has bestowed
on us that we may be called the children
of God. Yet so we are. The reason the
world does not know us is that it did not
know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's
children now; what we shall be has not
yet been revealed. We do know that when
it is revealed we shall be like him, for we
shall see him as he is.
The focus is being the children of God.

10. 2nd reading: 1 John 3:1-2
• 1 See what love the
Father has bestowed
on us that we may be
called the children of
God. Yet so we are.
The reason the world
does not know us is
that it did not know
him. 2 Beloved, we
are God's children
now; what we shall be
has not yet been
revealed. We do know
that when it is
revealed we shall be
like him, for we shall
see him as he is.
Commentary
• V.1 mentions the lavish love of
God for us.
• Because of his love, we become
children of God (v.1).
• V.1b explains why the world
does not know the Christians,
because it does not know God.
• V.2 recognizes the fact that we
are God’s children.
• V.2 tells of a higher identity or
destiny to be revealed.
• In the future, we will be like
God; we shall see him without
veil.

11. Reflection on the 2nd reading
• We are children of God.
• We owe our dignity as children of God
through the love of the Father.
• We Christians have a great future, not yet
revealed.
• We just have to wait. In the meantime, we
live according to our identity as God’s
children.

12. Gospel: John 10:11-18
• 11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep. 12 A hired man, who is
not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs
away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13
This is because he works for pay and has no concern
for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I
know mine and mine know me, 15 just as the
Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will
lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other
sheep 1 that do not belong to this fold. These also I
must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there
will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the
Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order
to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but
I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it
down, and power to take it up again. This command
I have received from my Father."

13. Gospel: John 10:11-18
Contrast between the good shepherd and the bad
The Good Shepherd
• 11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life
for the sheep.
The bad Shepherd
• 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not
his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13 This is because he
works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
The Good Shepherd
• 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
• and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
• 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I
must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one
flock, one shepherd.
• 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in
order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it
down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take
it up again. This command I have received from my Father."
A simple outline!

14. Gospel: John 10:11-18
Contrast between the good shepherd
and the bad
The Good Shepherd
• 11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd
lays down his life for the sheep.
The hired man (the bad Shepherd)
• 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and
whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf
coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13
This is because he works for pay and has no
concern for the sheep.
The Good Shepherd
• 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine
and mine know me, 15 just as the Father
knows me and I know the Father; and I will
lay down my life for the sheep.
• 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to
this fold. These also I must lead, and they will
hear my voice, and there will be one flock,
one shepherd.
• 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I
lay down my life in order to take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down
on my own. I have power to lay it down, and
power to take it up again. This command I
have received from my Father."
Commentary
• The reading
proclaims that Jesus
is the good shepherd.
• It describes what a
good shepherd does:
lays down his life for
his sheep and / goes
to those who are out
of the fold / leads /
has vision (one flock,
one shepherd)
• To lay down one’s life
means to die for / to
live for the benefit of
the other
• Jesus lays down his
life out of obedience
to the Father.

15. Further commentary on the gospel reading
• The gospel highlights Jesus as the good shepherd.
• The good shepherd has good corresponding traits and/or
actions:
– defends his sheep, (not a victimizer to unsuspecting people)
– keeps them from danger and death,
– lays down his life for them.
• As a shepherd, Jesus is the rallying point of all (the cause
of unity among all peoples).
• Jesus’ leadership as a shepherd is not just feeding (refer to
other verses), but also protecting, giving life and uniting.
All is done in obedience to the Father.
• The meaning of his leadership comes from the mandate of
the Father. The Father wills that his people be safe from
danger, be one community under one leader.
• In contrast, the hired man does not care when danger
comes.
• He is there for wages, not for the flock. He has no
emotional attachment to the flock.

16. Reflections on the gospel reading
• The gospel challenges us to ask ourselves,
if we are truly leaders:
– What kind of leaders are we?
– Do we have the characteristics of a good
shepherd?
• As leaders of our families and Church, we
are enjoined to defend, to nurture and to
lead our followers.
• Like Jesus, we do not count on the money
we spend when serving.
• If we lead in order to gain, we are bad
leaders (hirelings).

17. Tying the 3 readings
• The leadership of Peter becomes
instrumental in healing the cripple in the
name of Jesus (1st reading)
• God exercises his leadership through his
fatherhood by claiming the believers as his
children (2nd reading).
• Jesus’ leadership is expressed in his being
a good shepherd (gospel reading)

18. How to develop your homily/sharing
• Say something about a good leader (be it a president,
chairman, parish priest, bishop, etc.) whom you admire.
• Enumerate his/her good characteristics and
accomplishments in the community.
• Then you develop leadership in the person of
Jesus as the model, based on the gospel reading:
– the one who defends the flock rather than runs away
when there is danger (or always absent, nobody knows
where he/she is)
– the one who lays down his life, rather than preserve it
(to die rather than make others die),
– The one who seeks others to belong to the fold (invites
other people to hear his voice)
– the one who has a vision for his flock (unity).

19. • Based on the second reading, leadership
comes out of the appreciation that we are
God’s children.
• Leadership makes the best of us as God’s
children, obedient to his will, loving and
caring.
• Leadership, like that of Jesus, leads us to
see what is in store for us all in heaven. It
gives hope for a better future.

20. • In the first reading, we get a taste of what is
to be a leader in the person of Peter.
• As a leader, Peter boldly acknowledges
Christ as the source of healing and salvation
before his objectors.
• He does not cower (chicken out) in the face
of persecution and intense questioning.
• Like Peter, we must be spirit-filled.
• Forget leadership, without God’s Spirit
dwelling in you.

21. • Our country, churches, and parish
organizations need good leaders.
• We have a crisis of leadership not only in
the government but also in our church and
families as well.
• Our institutions are infested with
unqualified leaders and false
administrators who have no vision and
moral authority.
• These people have not been formed to
lead. As they sit on their post, they rake
money.
• They think they have prestige by just
having the title.
• They rule not by reason, but by their ego-
trips.

22. • The readings remind us that we go to
Jesus because he is a good model of
leadership.
• He is the shepherd-leader par excellence.
• We are called to imitate his leadership.
• We can develop leadership like his if we
allow ourselves to be formed and to be
taught by the life and teachings of Jesus,
if we try to listen to his voice.

23. • The eucharist is a sacrament of total self-
giving of Jesus as a shepherd-leader.
• Jesus as the good leader still lays down
his life for us in the form of bread and
wine in this eucharist.
• His leadership continues to nurture us and
unites us through the eucharist in his
post-resurrection.
• If you are not worthily receiving holy
communion, you have no right to be a
leader in the Church.

24. Our Context
• Abuse of authority
• Totalitarian
• Dictator
• Manipulator
• Coward, murderer
• Uses political power to
advance personal
business interests
• Traitor, no vision
• Heads and
coordinators who are
attuned to the voice of
the pastor (bishop,
pope, God)
• Loving shepherd
• Humble servant
• Good parish priests
and bishops who listen
to the needs of the
flocks
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