Acts 11:1-18, John 10:1-10
Today’s first reading tells us the story of Simon Peter’s dream to go and bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. This new mission encounters opposition from other apostles who not only doubt but have to be convinced. This reaction is interesting because it reveals a normal human habit: everybody wants to be left alone in their comfort zone. The apostles where comfortable with the ways they preached the Gospel to the Jews. Why would they embrace change? Why would they go to the Gentiles, especially since they were never among the chosen people?
Like the apostles who struggled to accept change in their lives and mission, we also experience the difficult task of coming out of our comfort zones to embrace the challenge of new realities in our life. We all know the difficulty of embracing our shared vision of Courageously Living the Gospel. Every small new step that shakes our comfort brings discomfort and readjustment. That is when the call to trust the Good Shepherd sounds loud in our ears.
Christ makes it clear that as Good Shepherd, He came to lay down His life for the sake of His sheep. Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Facing new challenges with trust and confidence in the Good Shepherd on our mission of evangelization is the invitation we are given today. But we have first to accept to die to ourselves to be able to be the change God meant us to be. When we abandon ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Lord realizes His plans through us. Fear that comes with embracing new ways of life and of doing things can easily make us willing to stick in our comfort zones. Yet, the Word of God challenges us to fix our eyes of faith on the Lord and let Him lead us as we follow Him who is the Good Shepherd.
During these trying times, we are invited to imitate Christ our Good Shepherd by being keepers of one another. A phone call to check with your neighbor, your friend or your family relative who faces loneliness; a prayer for the sick and those working towards the ways to find vaccine and other means to help the world; a prayer the medical personnel who put their lives at risk to help others… all these are different ways we can be shepherds for one another and keepers of one another, following in the footsteps of Him, the Eternal Good Shepherd who emptied Himself for our sake.
Let us ask Him to grant us the courage to embrace the new mission to which He invites us.
Fr. Emery