enter the sheepfold by the door

What is the straightforward encounter? It is direct. What is needed to receive direction? Listen. The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite us to consider the message of the Word without sophisticated analysis. In the Book of Acts, Peter is fortified by the Spirit to tell it like it is. He relates his experience and his invitation to the people in a clear and concise manner. The truth and the life that his person witnesses to the people are available to all who will hear the call of the Divine to receive the Promise of Life. The ancient and rich verses of Psalm23 provide comfort. The psalmist convinces us that “I shall not want”. The evidence is in the fruit of trusting the leadership of the Divine. Still waters and green pastures are graces in life, the rod and the staff supports our failings and through our trust of the Shepherd we experience the banquet of life in the presence of those who may be against us. Our journey will likely not be free of persecution and pain. The Presence remains through difficulty and our ‘strength’ to patiently endure is the Life of the indwelling Spirit connecting us with the continuing action of the Shepherd. How do we know the Shepherd? The Gospel of John puts it plainly. The One comes to us directly. We are invited to follow. The fruit of following the Shepherd is the participation in the Transcendent understanding that “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever”. (Psalm 23 meets John 10:10!)