Readings: Acts 2:14,36-41; 1 Peter 2:20-25; and John 10:1-10
“At one time you were straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd, the guardian of your souls” (1 Pet 2:25). This Sunday’s readings call us to rejoice in the fact that we have in the risen Jesus a good shepherd, who has laid down his life for us and now calls us to hear his voice as he leads us to the fullness of life. Let us joyfully sing the refrain of our responsorial psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want” (Ps 23).
The first reading from Acts proclaims the glorious success of Peter's first preaching of the Resurrection on Pentecost. It begins with the climactic conclusion of Peter's Pentecost sermon which we heard last week: “Let the whole house of Israel know beyond any doubt that God has made both Lord and Messiah this Jesus whom you crucified.” After the people have heard Peter’s good news, they ask “What are we to do, brothers?” Before his ascension, Jesus had told the apostles that their task would be to preach in his name repentance for the forgiveness of sins “to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem” (Lk 24:27). Now Peter begins that mission:
“You must reform and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, that your sins may be forgiven; then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was to you and your children that the promise was made, and to all those still far off whom the Lord our God calls.”
The people's response is overwhelming. We are told, “some three thousand were added that day.”
The 1 Peter reading is taken from a section of the letter that was addressed to slaves who made up a significant portion of the early Christian communities. They were always in danger of being unjustly beaten and punished by their masters. Peter tells them that if they suffer “for doing what is right, this is acceptable in God’s eyes.” In fact, they are following in the footsteps of Christ who, though innocent, endured insult, suffering, and death on the cross in order to heal them from sin:
“He did no wrong; no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted he returned no insult. When he was made to suffer, he did not counter with threats. In his own body he brought your sins to the cross, so that all of us, dead to sin, could live in accord with God's will.”
In the Gospel reading from John, Jesus presents two images of himself in relation to his followers: the shepherd of the sheep and the gate of the sheepfold. In both cases, Jesus contrasts himself with other selfish leaders who are “thieves and marauders.” In the first image, the difference between the true shepherd and the thief is that the shepherd is known to both the gatekeeper and the sheep. The true shepherd enters through the gate, and “the keeper opens the gate for him.” But the thief “climbs in some other way.” Likewise, when the true shepherd speaks, the sheep “recognize his voice,” and they follow him as he “walks in front of them.” In contrast, “They will not follow a stranger . . . because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.” As the gate of the sheepfold, Jesus is the way to safety. Whereas the thief “comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy,” Jesus came that the sheep “might have life and have it to the full.” The way Jesus gives fullness of life is by laying down his own life for his flock. Those who see and believe in this revelation of God’s love “recognize (Jesus’) voice” and joyfully follow him in the path that leads to life.
