Monday of Fourth Week after Easter, April 30,2007

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18. Psalm 42. John 10:1-10. Lectionary # 279:

Jesus is our good shepherd and the gate of the sheepfold. We are atuned to
his voice through the Scriptures and through our celebration at the
Eucharist. We listen for his voice and follow after him as he leads us to
verdant pastures. Just as in the Fourth Sunday after Easter, we are
likewise given more figurative language from John's Gospel about Jesus as
Shepherd today. Jesus Christ is this for us, yesterday, tomorrow, and
forever. (Hebrews 13:8). In the Synoptic Gospels ( Matthew, Mark, and
Luke), Jesus speaks in parables; in John's Gospel he uses symbolic and
figurative language which has the same purpose as the parables. Some of his
listeners are totally baffled by these illustrative examples; others,
follow his words and see pathways to life with Jesus that bring about peace
and calm. They help us to form positive images of who Jesus is for us and
since they come from the Sacred Scriptures we know we are on the right
track to know more about Jesus through these inspired sayings recorded in
primary texts. They are not legends but words of life and joy and peace.
Jesus conveys his loving relationship to us through these beautiful stories
and parables. They are meant to take us where we are and lead us to where
Jesus is. Jesus was a down to earth person, but he also knew how to speak
in attractive ways. His avocation was that of a carpenter, but his way of
life was that of a proclaimer of God's kingdom here among us and in the
future eternal realms as well. Fancy theological names like "realized
eschatology" and "future eschatology" are used to interpret what Jesus says
in plain metaphors. As a Revealer, especially in the Fourth Gospel, Jesus
uses more figurative language than that of his carpenter days; he is out to
attract people to participate in the kingdom of God that is among them and
among us; often the kingdom of God is also within us. We learn that Peter
in the first reading from Acts, listens to God through a dream or vision
and moves on to attract even the Gentiles into the kingdom. It is the Holy
Spirit who is within the community and within Peter's speech and healing
powers that leads the Gentiles to seek the Kingdom of God. Peter, like
Jesus, is now a shepherd of souls. And we as Gentile Christians take great
comfort in the final words of today's reading from the Acts of the
Apostles, "God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to
life. Amen."