Visibility near and far

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer some reflection on how we react sometimes to what should be clear messages and invitations to grow. The Jewish people who are attending the Festival of the Dedication of the Temple are celebrating in their traditional way the intervention of God to maintain the Hanukkah lights. Jesus is queried about the His claim to be Messiah. He cites the works He is performing and states His origin as being one with the Father. Is this too close? We know that most of the Jewish people reject Him. After the Resurrection, the Acts of the Apostles tells of the miraculous spread of the Way among Jews of the cities of the region. The apparent reluctance to bring the Good News to the Gentiles may be an attitude familiar to modern Christians who are comfortable presenting Jesus to Christians but we need the openness and faith of the men who went to Antioch to be purposeful about our witness to others. Those close appear unable to see and those at a distance are not considered when we are spreading the light. John expresses the trust that the sheep will hear the voice of the Shepherd and is certain as we should be that the will of the Father is being done!