Reflection for Sunday – April 26, 2026

Nancy DeRyckeSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Acts 2: 14a, 36-41; 1 Peter 2: 20b-25; John 10: 1-10 
Preacher: Nancy DeRycke

I have always treasured Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.”  But to be honest, this year personally has been a real challenge to those words for me. 

When my husband Ron fell and hit his head in St. Lucia and had to have emergency brain surgery there and then over and over again when we brought him back home with little hope for survival, our world was crumbling.  It has taken me a long time (and many friends stubbornly holding us each up with prayer and love as he slowly keeps trying) to even consider Jesus’ words now.

Perhaps you have had the same feeling of discouragement or despair or helplessness in your own journey.  What do we do when our world goes askew?  I remember Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance).  Perhaps we have gone or are going through all or some of them?

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, the 23rd Psalm is supposed to comfort us: “God is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want…”  It sounds so poetic and peaceful:  “You lead me in green pastures and refresh my soul…even in dark valleys, your rod and staff guide me…Surely goodness and kindness/mercy follow me all the days of my life…”

Well, most of us deep down might find ourselves thinking: “God is my Shepherd AND there is A LOT I want and need!?!”   The age-old question from Job onward:  Why do bad things happen to good people?  And not just our individual circumstances, but situations in our country and our world:  Why and how can things get so dangerously messed up.  We and many of our sisters and brothers around the world are in dark valleys.  In the old movie “Oh God!”, John Denver (the human being) shouts at George Burns (God), asking why God isn’t doing something to fix all the problems in his own life and the world that’s going to hell in a handbasket.  George Burns’ response is something like: “I’m God.  I created you and this beautiful world and set it in motion.  I’m responsible for the big picture.  For all the other things, I gave you each other.  You’re supposed to take care of each other…”

Ah ha.  We are each other’s “Shepherds”?   The way we know the Good Shepherd is by being a good shepherd and recognizing the good shepherds in our life?  Jesus may say he’s the door, the gate, the Good Shepherd (and some may falsely portray themselves as one) but you and I put flesh to that in our day by following Jesus’ lead.  

Ron and I would not have survived this year without people praying, supporting, challenging, sometimes taking charge or kicking us, showing up, pointing out moments of hope, forgiving missteps, guiding & pulling us all through these horrific times.  Some have pulled us back into life and the world’s concerns, letting us know what’s happening, picking up the slack or going to rallies and protests for us when we couldn’t go.  They have made green pastures where we never thought any good was possible, their rod and staffs, words and actions have guided us:  they’ve dragged us through dark valleys.  And we continue to be humbly grateful to each one.

That’s what we can do for each other and for anyone in need.  We show up.  Like Jesus who always showed up in tough situations (with the sick, the helpless, the hopeless) and said “Life—abundant life—is possible, even in dire circumstances…you are not alone.  Believe it… even though you walk in pastures of green or valleys of darkness, I will be with you.”

Nancy DeRycke
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