Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ Jesus,

In today’s first reading, we could hear Paul and Barnabas reaching out to the Jewish people and Gentiles. Gentiles means anyone who is not Jewish. Then, there is a conflict between the two groups. As we know, religious history is filled with such conflicts and we are still striving to learn how to have very strong beliefs and yet still have enormous respect for everyone else whose beliefs are different from our own.

The Gospel is repeating one of the aspects of the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles: Those who are my sheep hear my voice. The shepherd knows his sheep, Jesus says, and he knows each of us. Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. As individuals, endowed with free will, we are capable of straying from the fold and seeking our own will rather than God’s. However, the Good Shepherd never leaves the flock untended, and is always seeking the return of the stray, finding the lost and the discouraged among the sheep.

The Lord is indeed our Good Shepherd, guiding us in right paths, giving us courage and strength even in our darkest moments, spreading a banquet for us and inviting us to dwell in God’s house forever. If that be the case, then truly we shall not want for anything. The tender message of the Lord today is applicable to all, the rich and the poor, the well and the infirm, the young and the old, leaders and followers, saints and sinners. No one is to be excluded from Jesus’ sheepfold and all are lovingly invited to it. Let us give thanks for the resurrection today and ask for the Holy Spirit’s power to be at work in us so that we become truly a sheep who adheres to the will of our loving Risen Christ Jesus.

Fr Joe Jacob SVD.