Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
Yesterday was Good Shepherd Sunday and today’s Gospel is a continuation of that particular discourse in the Gospel of John. While reading this along with the first reading from Acts I kept thinking about how inclusiveness is such a foundational element of Jesus’ life and mission. When I reflect on how I can live out this particular element of Christian discipleship I am overwhelmed by all the opportunities I have each day to be inclusive of others and, at the same time, convicted by how many of those God given opportunities I allow to pass me by.
In the first reading from Acts, Peter receives a vision which clearly gave him the insight that Gentiles—those who were outside the Jewish community—would be granted the same gift of receiving the Holy Spirit if they repent and believe in Jesus. The community objected to their inclusion in the Christian community because these most recent converts were not Jewish and had not been subject to the laws and customs of Judaism, especially circumcision. But Peter relates his vision to them and declares, “If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?” The subsequent verses describe the joy and praise of the people. I am sure their joy was based on the fact that the gift of salvation was far more inclusive than they ever thought possible; but I wonder if they may also have been a bit relieved that this gift was not dependent upon strict laws or tying up loose ends or even ancestry—not only for themselves, but for everyone. It must have given them a much deeper understanding of this Jesus, this one and only Good Shepherd they loved and believed in. In the Gospel passage, Jesus makes it clear he is the one and only Good Shepherd. He is the one who gathers and protects and defends and even lays down his life for his flock. And he gathers all humanity—all are included. “These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” These verses remind me who is in charge of salvation. They remind me that salvation is a gift given freely and by no one except the Father through Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
So I consider myself responsible for how this concept of inclusiveness is expressed, not only in my own life but in my faith community as well. I would so like to believe I am not a part of anything that undermines the inclusion of anyone but I fear that is not the case. I can think of times when I have bypassed an opportunity to reach out to someone. Wow…what if Jesus had bypassed me? I have a good bit of work ahead of me. Every day my Good Shepherd creates an abundance of opportunities for me to express inclusiveness the way he did. I pray for the grace to recognize my Shepherd’s voice and respond as one of his flock.
Holy Jesus, my Good Shepherd
Open my heart as you opened the gates of heaven.
This is all pure gift!
Grant me the grace this day to respond to your voice
Thank you for inviting me to participate in some small measure in your mission—
the ultimate of gathering of ALL people into your one flock
Amen
--Gail Lyman