Fourth Sunday of Easter 2026

Published: April 26, 2026

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor preached the following homily April 26, 2026.

Bishop Taylor

When I was little, there were many children living near our house, and we spent lots of time playing together outside. 

When it was time to eat, my dad would whistle for us to come home. My friends' parents called their names, but my Dad whistled for us, which I liked a lot. It was a very distinctive whistle, and we knew right away who was calling and what he wanted. Of course, the other kids would just keep on playing. We all knew that my dad was calling us, not them. They responded to their own parents' call.

In today's Gospel, Jesus says that it's the same with his followers. He is the Good Shepherd, and we are sheep. When he calls his sheep, “the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.” The sheep that don't respond to his call apparently belong to someone else. And who we belong to matters. 

My dad didn't just whistle for us; he and my mother provided for us and protected us and were there for us always, especially in times of adversity. Our home was a place of love where we felt safe and knew we belonged. Others might live in more expensive houses, but no one had a better home.

Have you heard Jesus' call in your life? He calls us in many different ways. Some prophets heard him call them by name, but most of us — me included — hear him more with the heart than with the ears, feeling a growing conviction and attraction to him. 
Some of us first encountered him in something specific that happened to us — some frightening situation that we survived or a problem we solved only by the grace of God; some crisis that we could never have made it through on our own. 

Others of us grew up in a faithful, religious family and so have always heard him and followed him. I can remember many moments of special closeness to the Lord through which I gradually heard his call more and more clearly, but I don't remember any first encounter with him because that first encounter was when I was only three weeks old, the day of my baptism. 

But two of the days I do remember were the days of my First Communion and my confirmation, both of which were very special days for me. You have heard his voice in the sacraments and elsewhere, and are following him; you belong to him — as do all of us who are sincerely following Jesus.

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, when we ask God to show us what he wants each one of us to do with our lives and then give us the courage to respond. There are perhaps some here today who have never really asked the Lord what their role is in his plan, or at least haven't responded yet. Maybe you did make your First Communion, but that was years ago, and even despite being a Knight of Columbus, you really haven't done much following of Jesus since. 

Does your heart belong to someone or something other than Jesus? If you're not following him, it does, even if you are going through the motions of being a good Catholic. Has getting ahead become your main goal in life — the accumulation of possessions? Or some other false god — the pursuit of pleasure or power or prestige? Who you belong to matters — now and in eternity. 

Jesus doesn't just call us; he provides for us and protects us and is there for us always, especially in times of adversity. Your parish is your home and is a place of love where you know you belong. Jesus has led you here so that you “might have life and have it more abundantly.”