ODM Daily Inspirational Devotional Messages Bible Verse and Prayers ODM
Today’s Daily Gospel Reflection
Date: Monday, April 27, 2026
Liturgical Season: 4th Week of Easter
First Reading
Acts 11:1-18
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?”
Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven.
“At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?”
When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3, 4
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
“Where is your God?”O send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling.
Gospel Reading
John 10:11-18
Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up 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 up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Today’s Reflection (Based on the Gospel)
The following reflection is adapted from the content provided on the Word on Fire website for this Gospel reading.
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares: “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me.” He specifies that he knows intimately those whom he will gather—and that they know him.
A good shepherd will be able to recognize clearly which sheep are of his flock, and the sheep themselves will be able to distinguish the voice of their shepherd from the array of voices and sounds that surround them.
What is it that leads people to accept Jesus Christ? What is it that appeals to them when they read Scripture or they approach the sacraments? We could say that it is only custom or background or luck that leads them to say yes, but I think that something much deeper is going on. There is a resonance when Christ’s voice is heard precisely because the whole world has been wired to hear it.
It’s not unlike the acorn theory of personal development. When a child encounters what they are “meant” to be, somehow it grabs them and chooses them. So it goes with the voice of Jesus. We lost sheep implicitly recognize it and respond.
Key Themes from Today’s Reflection
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Intimate Recognition – Jesus knows His sheep personally, and they know Him. This is not a distant, impersonal relationship but a deep, mutual knowing.
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Discerning the True Voice – In a world full of competing voices (social media, culture, fear, false prophets), the sheep must learn to distinguish the Good Shepherd’s voice from all others.
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Resonance and Wiring – Bishop Robert Barron (founder of Word on Fire) suggests that the human heart is “wired” to recognize Jesus. When we hear the Gospel, something deep inside resonates because we were made for Him.
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The Acorn Analogy – Just as an acorn is “meant” to become an oak tree, each person is meant for something. When a person encounters their true calling or purpose, it “grabs them and chooses them.” Similarly, when a lost sheep hears the Good Shepherd’s voice, something inside recognizes home.
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Inclusive Love – Although not the central focus of today’s reflection, the Gospel verse “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold” reminds us that God’s saving mission extends beyond any single group, nation, or denomination.
A Short Prayer Based on Today’s Gospel
Good Shepherd Jesus, You know me by name, and You laid down Your life for me. Tune my ears to recognize Your voice above the noise of this world. When I wander, call me back. When I am afraid, let me hear You saying, “Do not be afraid, I am with you.” Teach me to trust not the hired hands who flee at the first sign of danger, but You alone who stays, who fights, and who lays down everything for my sake. Help me today to listen for Your voice in Scripture, in prayer, and in the people You place before me. Amen.
