The Word of the Lord
This Sunday's Scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Read, reflect, and prepare your heart for worship.
This Sunday’s Readings
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2026
Collect Collect of the Day
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer (1979)
First Reading Acts 2:42-47
42Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
42The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44All the believers were united and shared everything. 45They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
Psalm Psalm 23
Dominus regit me
I shall fear no evil; *for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
who trouble me; *you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.
of my life, *and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Book of Common Prayer (1979)
Second Reading 1 Peter 2:19-25
19It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
22“He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
19Now, it is commendable if, because of one’s understanding of God, someone should endure pain through suffering unjustly. 20But what praise comes from enduring patiently when you have sinned and are beaten for it? But if you endure steadfastly when you’ve done good and suffer for it, this is commendable before God. 21You were called to this kind of endurance, because Christ suffered on your behalf. He left you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps. 22He committed no sin, nor did he ever speak in ways meant to deceive. 23When he was insulted, he did not reply with insults. When he suffered, he did not threaten revenge. Instead, he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He carried in his own body on the cross the sins we committed. He did this so that we might live in righteousness, having nothing to do with sin. By his wounds you were healed. 25Though you were like straying sheep, you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your lives.
Gospel John 10:1-10
Jesus said, 1“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Jesus said, 1“I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. 2The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. 5They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” 6Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying.
7So Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. 8All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.”