Immaculate Conception Parish Luanshya

CATHOLIC READINGS FOR MONDAY APRIL 27TH 2026

MONDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER (YEAR A)



SAINT (S) OF THE DAY: ST. LOUIS MARY DE MONTFORT



ENTRANCE ANTIPHON ROM 6:9

Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more; death will no longer have dominion over him, alleluia.

COLLECT

O God, perfect light of the blessed, by whose gift we celebrate the paschal mysteries on earth, bring us, we pray, to rejoice in the full measure of your grace for ages unending. Through our Lord...

FIRST READING

“Then to the Gentiles also, God has granted repentance unto life.”

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 11:1-18)

In those days: The apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?”

But Peter began and explained to them in order: “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.

Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’

“But I said, ‘No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’

“This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction.

These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’

If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also, God has granted repentance unto life.”

*The word of the Lord...*

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALM 42:2-3; 43:3.4 (R. see 42:3ab)

R/. My soul is thirsting for you, the living God.
or: Alleluia.

Like the deer that yearns for running streams,
so my soul is yearning for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for God, the living God;
when can I enter and appear before the face of God? R/.

O send forth your light and your truth;
they will guide me on.
They will bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell. R/.

R/. My soul is thirsting for you, the living God.
or: Alleluia.

And I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and gladness.
To you will I give thanks on the harp,
O God, my God. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION...

ALLELUIA JOHN 10:14

Alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own, and my own know me. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 10:11-18)

At that time: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf sn**ches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.”

*The Gospel of the Lord...*

REFLECTION: BY CATHOLIC LIFE

Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 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. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep." John 10:11-13

There is a clear difference in this passage. One stays. One leaves.

The hired man walks away when danger comes because nothing truly belongs to him. The sheep are not his. The cost is not his to bear. So he protects himself first.

But Jesus speaks of something else. He does not distance Himself when things fall apart. He steps closer. Even when it costs Him everything.

This is not just about who He is. It also shows us how we often respond. When situations become difficult, when people disappoint us, when things feel too heavy, we tend to pull back. We protect our time, our comfort, our peace.

Yet Jesus shows a different way. Not reckless, but committed. Not forced, but willing. He knows the sheep, and they are His. So He remains.

There is something personal here. We are not just part of a crowd to Him. He knows us, and He does not leave when we struggle, fail, or wander.

And slowly, we are invited to grow into that same kind of faithfulness.

Not perfect, but present. Not running at the first sign of difficulty, but learning to stay where love calls us to remain.

Where do we tend to pull away when things become uncomfortable or demanding, and what might it look like to stay instead?

Lord Jesus,
You do not leave us when life becomes difficult.

You remain with us, even when we fall short.

Teach us to trust in Your presence.
Help us to grow in faithfulness,
to stay where love is needed,
and to care for others with a sincere heart.
Amen.


STILL ON REFLECTION:

In chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, Jesus repeats again and again that he is the bread of life and that he who eats this bread will live eternally.

The Eucharist concretizes union with Christ in faith and ensures life in him. When the Jews are scandalized at this teaching Jesus reinforces his expression and insists on the necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood.

The blood in particular points to the sacrificial sense of the Eucharist and union with Christ in participating in the work of redemption. The Eucharist is different from all earthly food because it leads to participation in the mystery of Christ through faith.

Faith is a necessary requirement for participation which makes present the entire redemptive work of Christ.


SAINT (S) OF THE DAY: ST. LOUIS MARY DE MONTFORT

He was born on January 31, in Montfort-Sur-Meu, Brittany, France. His father was Baptiste Grignion, a notary and mother Jeanne Robert.

At age 12, he entered the Jesuit College of St. Thomas Becket in Rennes. He was ordained a priest in the year 1700 and worked in Nantes. He was frustrated with the priest service because he did not get the opportunity to preach to the poor people.

So after four months of ordination, he joined in the Third Order of the Dominicans in November 1700. He preached the Gospel throughout France and founded many congregations. He founded the Missionary of the Company of Mary for both priests and brothers and the Daughters of Wisdom to care specially for the destitute and sick people. He also founded the Montfort Missionaries and the Brothers of St. Gabriel.

He did research on the writings of the church fathers and saints related to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was considered as one of the greatest apostles of rosary in his days. He wrote a book named The Secrets of Rosary, which is a very inspiring work on rosary. He was very much devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It is believed that the declaration of Virgin Mary as the Mediatrix and Co-Redemptrix in the redemption of humanity by Pope Leo-XIII was based on the spirit of the writings of Montfort about Virgin Mary. He fought against Jansenism- a theological system named after its proponent Cornelius Jansenius, a bishop in Belgium.

He died due to natural causes on April 28, 1716 at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre. His statue is placed at the Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican.

He was beatified on January 22, 1888 by Pope Leo-XIII and canonized by Pope Pius-XII on July 20, 1947.

ST. LOUIS MARY DE MONTFORT, PRAY FOR US

TODAY ROSARY: JOYFUL MYSTERY

COLOUR:

WHITE



MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS HIS WORD IN OUR HEARTS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.

HERE IS WISHING YOU A GREAT DAY AND GLORIOUS WEEK AHEAD MY DEAR BRETHREN.

ICP MEDIA TEAM