Illustration: 19th century by German Artist Bernard Plockhorst
Pope Leo’ Regina Caeli 4th Sunday of Easter
St Peter’s Square – 26 April 2026
Gospel for 4th Sunday of Easter John 10:1-10
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Pope Leo’s Regina Caeli Homily
Brothers and sisters,
As we continue our journey through the Easter season, today’s Gospel presents Jesus comparing himself to a shepherd and to the gate of the sheepfold.
He draws a contrast between the shepherd and the thief.
He says, “Anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit”.
He clarifies this further: “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”.
The difference is clear:
The shepherd has a special bond with his sheep and can therefore enter through the sheepfold’s gate.
Conversely, someone who climbs over the fence is certainly a thief who wants to steal the sheep.
Jesus tells us that he has a friendship with us.
He knows us, calls us by name, and guides us.
Just as a shepherd does with his sheep, he searches for us when we are lost and heals our wounds when we are sick (Ezekiel. 34:16 – I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice.).
Jesus does not come as a thief to take our lives and freedom, but to guide us along righteous paths.
He does not come to deceive or ensnare our conscience, but rather to enlighten it with the light of his wisdom.
He does not come to taint our earthly joys but to open them to fuller, more lasting happiness.
Those who entrust themselves to him have nothing to fear because he does not take away our life; he gives it to us in abundance.
Brothers and sisters,
We are invited to reflect on and be especially vigilant about the gate to our hearts and lives because whoever enters may either increase our joy or steal it from us like a thief.
“Thieves” can take many forms.
They could be people who suppress our freedom or fail to respect our dignity, regardless of appearances; beliefs and biases that prevent us from viewing others and life with serenity; mistaken ideas that can lead us to make negative choices; or superficial, consumerist lifestyles that leave us empty inside and push us to constantly live beyond our means.
Let us also not forget the “thieves” who pillage the earth’s resources, wage bloodthirsty wars, and fuel evil in any form.
They rob each of us of the possibility of a future marked by peace and serenity.
We must ask ourselves:
Who do we want to guide us in life?
Which “thieves” have tried to break into our fold?
Have they succeeded, or have we managed to ward them off?
Today, the Gospel invites us to trust in the Lord.
He does not come to take anything from us. On the contrary, he is the Good Shepherd who increases life and offers it to us in abundance.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary always accompany us on our journey and intercede for us and for the whole world.
