There are a great deal of things or ideas, that I could talk to you about from today's readings. From the first reading we have Peter talking to "the builders", the leaders of the people and elders. You can think about it in modern times as Peter talking to people like our bishops, our judges and senior officials of the government. Peter was talking about how a man was healed. Peter Said "… then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean... whom you crucified,... whom God raised from the dead;... in his name this man stands before you healed..." whom you crucified... whom God raised from the dead... This is very strong language. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and had strength and courage to say these things, to testify that it was in Jesus' holy and precious name that this work of healing was performed. To quote the end of the first reading..."There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
You and I often times need the strength and the courage to say things to others. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to help us in those moments. It is by God's grace that we are able to overcome obstacles in our lives. Obstacles could be temptations to sin or the need to stand up to those people in our community who need to hear the Truth.
From the psalms ... Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his kindness endures forever... I have also read in other translations, his mercy endures forever. God is good, amen? Have you ever thought about how long forever is? We deal with clocks and calendars, but with God, there really is no time. How long is God good? Forever. How long will his kindness and mercy endure? Forever. How long will God wait for us? As long as it takes... hopefully we will not wait forever to go to God. Think about the parable of the prodigal son. The father leaping off the front porch a running to greet the returning son. Even before the son asked for forgiveness he was forgiven. We are told by Jesus to forgive how many times? 77 times 7 or 70 times 7 depending on the verse. Does that mean we are to forgive 539 times or 490 times? NO! We are to forgive until there is no need to forgive any longer or rather, we are to always forgive. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us... Jesus also said that the way we are to be forgiven is how we forgive each other.
From the Second reading... "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God." Children of God makes us automatically think that if we are children, then our Father is God. Our Father who art in Heaven. The reading goes on to say "what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him" We don't exactly know what God looks like, but we can be assured that when it is revealed to us, we shall be like him. It is really hard for me to imagine what it will be like when I'm face to face with God!
Now on to the Gospel. Jesus is described as the good shepherd. Good doesn't quite cut it though. Jesus is the ideal shepherd or the model shepherd. The reason He is ideal for the job first is because He is God. The second reason is that he is fully human. A shepherd, in order to know his sheep and care for them, has to live among them. He has to be close to them. Jesus not only came from heaven to earth to be near his sheep, he actually became like them. The shepherd became a sheep, took on our nature, and lived life in the same way as we do (except without sin). This is why he is the good shepherd, perfectly qualified to know us and to care for us. He is like us in our flesh. There is no shepherd like Jesus.
Jesus lays his life down for his flock... we are his flock. Jesus said that He knows His own and they know Him. I have not witnessed a shepherd tending to his flock, but have heard stories about it. A shepherd spends much time with his sheep. It is really quite remarkable that they learn the sound of his voice. And when he calls for them they actually come to him. If they hear the sound of a stranger's voice, they will stop. If they hear the stranger's voice again, they will run away and scatter. Fortunately for us, Jesus knows each and every one of us by our first name and we know Him by His first name, Jesus.
Jesus also said that He has other sheep that do not belong to the fold. He must bring them also and they will listen to His voice. Consequently, they will be of one flock, having one Shepherd.
When Jesus spoke of His other sheep, He was referring to the Gentiles who at the time were not inheritors of the Old Testament promises of God for His chosen people. He was referring to all the people throughout the world, no matter their language, their nationality, their race or their culture. All are called to be of one flock, to have one Shepherd. Through faith in Jesus and the Sacrament of Baptism, all are born again of the godly seed to belong to the One Body of Christ. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, all are equal as children of God.
The Heavenly Father loves His Son Jesus because He voluntarily laid down His life for all of mankind. Jesus laid down His life so He can take it up again. Our hope lies in the resurrection. Our hope to live in eternal life with the Father is through Jesus Christ. Alleluia. Happy Easter and May God Bless You.
