The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our sense of being in relationship with the Good Shepherd who guides our journey through the action of the Holy Spirit.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles is Peter’s Report to the Church at Jerusalem.
* [11:1–18] The Jewish Christians of Jerusalem were scandalized to learn of Peter’s sojourn in the house of the Gentile Cornelius. Nonetheless, they had to accept the divine directions given to both Peter and Cornelius. They concluded that the setting aside of the legal barriers between Jew and Gentile was an exceptional ordinance of God to indicate that the apostolic kerygma was also to be directed to the Gentiles. Only in Acts 15 at the “Council” in Jerusalem does the evangelization of the Gentiles become the official position of the church leadership in Jerusalem. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)
Psalm 42 expresses longing for God and His Help in distress.
* [Psalms 42–43] Ps 42–43 form a single lament of three sections, each section ending in an identical refrain (Ps 42:6, 12; 43:5). The psalmist is far from Jerusalem, and longs for the divine presence that Israel experienced in the Temple liturgy. Despite sadness, the psalmist hopes once again to join the worshiping crowds. (Psalms, PSALM 42, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
* [10:1–21] The good shepherd discourse continues the theme of attack on the Pharisees that ends Jn 9. The figure is allegorical: the hired hands are the Pharisees who excommunicated the cured blind man. It serves as a commentary on Jn 9. For the shepherd motif, used of Yahweh in the Old Testament, cf. Ex 34; Gn 48:15; 49:24; Mi 7:14; Ps 23:1–4; 80:1. * [10:1] Sheepfold: a low stone wall open to the sky. * [10:4] Recognize his voice: the Pharisees do not recognize Jesus, but the people of God, symbolized by the blind man, do. * [10:6] Figure of speech: John uses a different word for illustrative speech than the “parable” of the synoptics, but the idea is similar. * [10:7–10] In Jn 10:7–8, the figure is of a gate for the shepherd to come to the sheep; in Jn 10:9–10, the figure is of a gate for the sheep to come in and go out. (John, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Cindy Costanzo reflects on her answers to questions about her relationship with Jesus.
How do I choose to spend time with my Shepherd, Jesus? Do I listen, really listen? Do I consciously turn off the iPhone, the TV, the music, and just listen? Do I recognize Jesus' voice, the spirit speaking to me? How do I change the pace in my life, slow down and find a space where myself and Jesus can be alone? If I listened and followed Jesus' voice, what has changed and what would change in my life?... So, in this 4th week of Easter, I remember Christ has Risen! Jesus knows us by name and has carved out a space for me and you for a purpose. I pray to continue to receive the grace of the Spirit to take the time to listen, connect and hear the call of Jesus. (Costanzo, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Green pastures and still waters,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The pastures that this good shepherd has prepared for you, in which he has settled you for you to take your fill, are not various kinds of grasses and green things, among which some are sweet to the taste, some extremely bitter, which as the seasons succeed one another are sometimes there and sometimes not. Your pastures are the words of God and his commandments, and they have all been sown as sweet grasses. These pastures had been tasted by that man who said to God, 'How sweet are your words to my palate, more so than honey and the honeycomb in my mouth!'" (excerpt from Sermon 366,3,1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 11:1-18 comments that, as Peter demonstrates, we become humbler as we take the focus off ourselves. We become more open to seeking and accepting God’s perspective instead of our own. One way we can learn to do that is to make a general review of our day. This can help us grow in humility, give us God’s perspective, and teach us that we can’t always trust our own viewpoint. Sit down in a comfortable place, away from distractions. Then recall some of the things that happened during the day. Ask the Lord what he may have been saying to you during those times. As you recall some moments, you may feel that he is saying, “Well done” or “This is a blessing from me.” In other moments, he may show you how you could have viewed the situation differently.
Don’t be discouraged if you see ways you slipped up or held on too tightly to your own ideas. Like Peter, learn from them and be open to how God might be calling you to change your way of thinking. That’s the way to humility—the way of Peter and all the saints. “Lord, help me to follow St. Peter’s example and grow in humility.” (Meditation on Acts 11:1-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler traces the spread of the Good News from the Aramaic Jews to the Gentiles under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The nature of sheep may indicate that it is not always a complement to be referred to as one. Friar Jude reminds us of the shift in symbolism from shepherd to sheep gate at the end of the text today.
James Finley comments that whenever someone on the spiritual path shares their concerns about their lack of desire for and commitment to their path, He often senses the tender sadness in all that they share. The tenderness lies in the sincerity in which they obviously do care. For if they did not care, their perceived lack of caring would be of no concern to them. And the sadness lies in their inability to see how God loves them so in the midst of their real and imagined lack of commitment to God. Mirabai Starr describes this state in the work of John of the Cross.
Where have you hidden away,
[Beloved], and left me grieving, care on care?
Hurt me and wouldn’t stay
but off like a deer from there?
I hurried forth imploring the empty air.
You shepherds, you that rove
over the range where mountains touch the sky,
if you should meet my love
—my one love—tell him why
I’m faint, and in a fever, and may die. [2] (Longing, n.d.)
The care of the Good Shepherd offers us verdant pastures and still waters in the sometimes turbulent and fearful events of life.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment