Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
In today’s reading from Acts, Peter relates to his community a personal vision from God. This vision convinces him that, despite long established traditions/laws, nothing controls the coming of the Holy Spirit upon a people. Indeed, Peter witnesses, “God gave them (the Gentiles) the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ…”. In St. John's Gospel—the beginning of the Good Shepherd passage—Jesus tells us he is the ‘gate for the sheep’ and that, although some try and enter in other ways—trying to steal or destroy the fold—it is only through Jesus, the one and only Good Shepherd, that one may enter and be saved. There is nothing human beings can do to control this. Still, we find ourselves thinking—most assuredly—that we have all the answers. We think we know better than our neighbor, better than our pastor, or anyone else. Unconsciously, we may even think we know better than Jesus.
In living a life of discipleship, the Holy Spirit blesses us with the knowledge of who we truly are. Yet, oftentimes, we are not listening. The thoughts that invade our consciousness lead us to see 'us' and 'them'. We find ourselves dividing and separating in such a way that we always end up 'on top'… we are right or better or worthier. This is wrongheaded. When we look at a neighbor who is Muslin or Jewish, agnostic or atheist, immigrant or refugee and think, 'you are on the wrong path' or 'you have not found the way to salvation', we place ourselves in a position that belongs to God and to God alone—no matter the reasoning, logic, or rationale.
God did not create us as mindless sheep incapable thinking or self-awareness. What must always be foremost in our hearts and minds is that we are followers of Jesus, the Christ, who is the one and only Savior. Our role is not interfering with God's plan but rather personally cooperating in God's plan by the grace bestowed on us. Personal salvation or the salvation of a 'people' is the absolute and exclusive dominion of God. This day, may we ponder how our lives truly reflect this fact. May we pray that God, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, grant us the grace to follow Jesus more consciously trusting Jesus will lead us toward living with a heart as inclusive as the heart of God.
--Gail Lyman