Today's readings are particularly striking, each in their own right. The first reading shows how redemption begins to be extended to the Gentiles with the concurrence and affirmation of St. Peter, the first Pope. This occurred, however, not without Peter's initial objection. Preaching to the Gentiles was one thing that Peter went along with, but having them as "confirmed" members of the faith was another. But with the occurrence of this three-times-repeated vision and revelation from God, Peter began to change his mind, and when he saw the same Spirit descend upon the Gentiles that descended upon himself and the other three thousand on that day he stopped objecting and glorified God saying: who am I to be able to hinder God in doing what he wants to do: God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.
This is pretty astounding news! Salvation was always thought of to be solely for God's special family – the people of Israel. But now God is saying that, actually, salvation for all is what he had in mind all along: it was not God who changed his mind. The sin of Adam touched all men; Jesus gave his life for the sins of all: including Gentiles!
The gospel passage continues the wonderful good shepherd theme of this time of the year. Jesus calls himself the sheep gate – the door through which the sheep come and go to find pasture. He calls each sheep by his own name, sheep of his Jewish family, and all others races – and invites them to follow him to safety, refreshment, food and everlasting life. Jesus is not like the hired shepherd who is interested only in money, and does not know the names of the sheep, does not care for them, and will simply abandon them when difficulties with the sheep arise.
What is amazing here is that God's true sheep (his baptized members) know his voice from the day of their baptisms and confirmations; they sense they ought to follow this true shepherd, and not follow a stranger posing as a shepherd. They certainly can tell the difference between the two.
May we this day spend some time reveling in the fact that Jesus is our One, True, Loving and Noble shepherd who will provide exactly what we need when we need it – for our own salvation – and for the good of all other – especially those we will come into contact with today!
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly! Thank you Jesus for doing this. I will live today to show you did not do this in vain!
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