Monsignor Enrique Díaz Díaz shares with Exaudi readers his reflection on the  Gospel for this Sunday, April 26, 2026,   entitled:  “ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Alleluia .”

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Acts of the Apostles 2, 14, 36-41:  “God has made him Lord and Messiah”

Psalm 22:  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Hallelujah!”

1 Peter 2:20-25:  “You have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls”

John 10:1-10:  “I am the gate for the sheep”

When we contemplate the vast multitudes yearning for peace and seeking justice, weary and filled with anger at such a broken world, we are compelled to recall the words of Jesus, who proclaims himself the Good Shepherd. Perhaps some will find this strange and even protest, because the image of the Shepherd is so closely linked to the image of the sheep, or as we say among ourselves, the image of the lamb, which has acquired a pejorative connotation of manipulation, blind following, and an unconscious mob. The great masses are swept along by corrupt leaders or subjugated by the mass media, appearing unconscious, lethargic, and indifferent to the grave situations. There are increasingly more signs of an awakening in a segment of society, however small and occasional. And today, Good Shepherd Sunday, seems an opportune day for our reflection to lead us to an awareness of all that we are doing that has brought this mad and unhinged world to the brink of collapse.

Christ, the Good Shepherd, does not want to lull us to sleep or cover up the responsibilities of either criminals or authorities. Nothing could be further from Christ’s intention. He has argued vehemently with the chiefs and the Pharisees, and now he launches a harsh critique of their leadership and authority. It is therefore a judgment against those who do not watch over their flock, those who abandon it, dragging others along with them, or those who do not approach the flock in the right way. It brings to mind the harsh imprecation of the prophet Ezekiel against the bad shepherds of Israel; it applies to the leaders of Jesus’ time, but it is also a living word for today and is presented as a harsh and current critique against the leaders and bad shepherds who disregard the people and only take advantage of their privileges and positions. It is an accusation against both the wolves and the shepherds, but it is also a strong, yet energetic and loving, warning so that the sheep do not fall asleep or go after deceptive securities. Evil and injustice are the responsibility of both criminals and authorities, but so too are the silence, indifference, and fear of a people who remain silent, who do not rise up, and who have not done what is necessary to shake off so much corruption and so many lies.

When Peter accused the crowd of responsibility for Jesus’ death, they asked with anguished hearts,  “What must we do ?” And Peter invited them to a true conversion, not a change of scenery or superficial changes. He suggested a transformation where sin is definitively erased and they are guided by the Spirit. Today, this should also be our question and our attitude. We must place Christ as our Good Shepherd, but also adopt the attitudes befitting a responsible people, aware of their obligations and rights. For we all agree that Christ is the true shepherd, the opposite of the hired hand, and the only sure guide who goes before the sheep and opens the way; yet we are unwilling to undergo an examination of our role as shepherds, caretakers, and educators of a people, a community, or a family. We readily apply Jesus’ demanding words about bandits, thieves, and hired hands to those in authority, to those in positions of responsibility, and to those who have the duty to watch over our people. And we are right, because they must take to heart the example of Christ, and any authority or moral leader has the obligation to look after the well-being of citizens and not to exploit them. But at the same time, these words of Christ are for each of us who have some responsibility toward others: parents, teachers, coordinators, priests, catechists, authorities… we all have to look at ourselves in this image of Jesus and see how we are carrying out our duties.

Today’s passage also emphasizes a clear difference between the voice of the shepherd and the voice of the hired hand. The shepherd’s voice reaches deep within us and gives us life. But we also hear other voices that lull us to sleep, deceive us, and intimidate us. The saddest part is that some follow these voices and end up dead. We must discern which voice we are following. At the same time, Jesus affirms,  “I am the gate for the sheep.”  A gate has a dual function: to open and to close; to protect and to let in. In this case, it is a gate of exclusion for robbers and thieves, and a gate of access for true shepherds. A gate closed to those who seek their own self-interest and open to those who seek to give life. A gate open to freedom and intimacy. And Christ invites us to pass through this gate, which is Himself, to open ourselves to true freedom. At the same time, it is a gate closed to lies, injustice, and evil. Jesus offers us a criterion for discerning whom we let in through this gate and which voices we listen to:  “that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  That which kills the people, that which limits life, that which darkens it, we cannot let in nor allow it to manipulate us.

This Good Shepherd Sunday presents itself to us like a powerful wake-up call, rousing us to action. The disciple cannot remain passive, for indifference to injustice is a grave sin of omission. And at the same time, it invites us to be attentive, discerning the voices that give abundant life from those that lead to death and corruption. What are we doing? Are we passive in the face of injustice, corruption, and evil? What is our responsibility when we are both shepherds and sheep?

Jesus, Good Shepherd, teach us to lay down our lives for the sheep entrusted to us, give us the wisdom and courage to protect the community, the young, and the children, and grant us to recognize You as our Gate and our Shepherd. Amen.