First Reading - Acts 11:1-18
Gospel - John 10:11-18
The first reading gives us a wonderful narration about God's merciful care for even pagans. This passage contradicts a long-standing belief of Jews that God has chosen them alone and condemned others (gentiles and non-Jews). The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household brings a fresh vitality in the early Church as the sign from God for the confirmation that He also has chosen others as the members of a new community. The acceptance of non-Jews was initially opposed by Jews converts but after the narration of the incident by Peter about the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household, they accepted God's will and praised God for it. The acceptance of Cornelius and household as members of the Church also paves the way to a new outlook of the Church that it's open to everyone who comes to believe in Jesus.
The gospel passage narrates the relational aspect between the shepherd and the sheep. However, it's important to mark that the sheep are renowned as being silly, contradictory creatures, always starting off in the wrong direction, getting themselves into tangles and difficulties. In the Holy Land they are scraggy beasts, pastured on rocky and often dangerous ground, amid boulders and rocky cliffs, threatened by wild animals and marauders. It was not simply a matter of the shepherd sitting on a rock and idly playing his pipe. He needed to be on the alert to save the sheep from hurting themselves. So Jesus as the good shepherd is kept well occupied by our foibles, our stubbornness, our mistakes and our fears. The dedication or love of the shepherd is marked by his readiness to die for the sheep. Again, as in the subsequent verses, there is the reassurance of a close relationship with the Father. Jesus knows us intimately, just as he knows the Father. The passage gives us a reminder that we should be confident of our shepherd who knows us through and through.
Dear friends, today's readings confirm the fact that Jesus leads and guides his sheep to eternal life. However, there is no rigid nature of the membership to the flock but the gate to the flock is open to everyone who is ready to believe in him. This fact is depicted by the first reading where Jews converts come to realise that all are invited to the faith in Jesus and receive salvation in and through him.
Jesus also explains the nature of relationship that exists between the shepherd and the sheep; the relationship of trust and intimacy. The shepherd knows his sheep by name and the sheep recognise his voice, this signifies the intimacy and trust that sheep enjoy with the shepherd or the Christians enjoy with Christ. Furthermore, the relationship of trust and intimacy enjoyed by the sheep finds its end in the leading of the sheep to eternal life through the shepherd. We too have an assurance of eternal life through Jesus who guides, leads and protects us till we have fullness of life through him.
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