Peace and well

27/04/2021

Gospel of saint John 10, 22-30

In today’s Gospel, the revelation of Jesus deepens on the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple. Not only is he the door and shepherd, he is not only showing himself to be God’s envoy by the works that he does. His relationship with the Father, with God, is of a mysterious identification: «I and the Father are one.» Jesus progressively manifests the mystery of his own person: the «I am.»

What happens is that some of his listeners do not want to believe in him. And it is precisely faith in Jesus that decides whether or not one will have eternal life. If someone gets lost, it will be because he wants to. Because Jesus, who once again presents himself as the Good Shepherd, does know his sheep, and defends them, and gives his life for them, and does not want any to be lost (just remember the scene of his arrest in the garden of the olive trees: «if you look for me, let them go away»). And he will give them eternal life. The one that he himself receives from the Father.

Reflection

The Gospel passage invites us to renew our faith and our following of Jesus as well. Can we say that we listen to him, that we know him, that we follow him? That we are good sheep of his flock? We should make our own the attitude that Peter so beautifully expressed: «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life».

In the Eucharist we always listen to his voice. We listen to his Word. We feed on his Body and Blood. In truth, this is a privileged moment in which Christ is Shepherd and we are his community. That should continue throughout the day: following in his footsteps, living in union with him, imitating his lifestyle.

Fr. Antony Majeesh George Kallely, OFM.