Amala William csc –
Readings: Acts 11: 19-26; Jn 10: 22-30
In the first reading, we have the post-persecution narrative regarding Stephen. The Christians were scattered on account of their faith and endured torture and persecution. But they never stopped proclaiming Jesus to people.
Here we have a loyal servant of God, Barnabas, who bears testimony and travels to different places. In the gospel, the Jews gathered around Jesus and enquired about his proclamation as Christ.
On several occasions Jesus manifested himself as the Messiah, but the stubborn nature of the Jews prevented them from accepting him as the Lord. The metaphor of sheep and the shepherd has a profound meaning. The sheep knows the voice of the shepherd and the sheep follows it faithfully. The Jews had heard of Jesus’ preaching but never understood him as Christ.
The reading of the day concretely expresses the nature of Christians. One cannot merely be called as a Christian just because he/she is baptized. They need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be people of faith. This would enable the followers to listen to the voice of the shepherd who calls them. Then there is no separation, but only union – the person in Christ and Christ in Him – and they are one with the Father. Being a Christian means living in communion with the Trinitarian God where that union is seen in us by the people we interact with.