THEOLOGICAL CLUE

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, in years A and B, at least, has the biblical content that the Second Sunday after Easter used to have: namely, Good Shepherd Sunday. John 10 is read in all three years: Year A is assigned John 10:1-10; Year B has the original Good Shepherd Sunday Gospel, John 10:11-16; and Year C contains the last part of the chapter, John 10:22-30. The figure of the Good Shepherd was central to the symbolism of all of the ancient churches, picturing the risen Christ, ascended, sitting on a throne, Peter and Paul on either side, the other disciples often in the background and, nearly always, sheep drinking from a river emanating from the four gospels, while other sheep graze on the grass by the river. The Good Shepherd usually has a hand raised in benediction.…