April 18, 2013
Daniel Daring Daniel's
previous reflections
Entrusting
the sheep to Jesus’ care
Fourth
Sunday of Easter
Acts
13:14, 43-52; Rev 7:9, 14-17; John 10:27-30
Other
sheep I must bring
Wendy is twenty seven. Ten years earlier she was walking through the city and stumbled upon the church. The cross, towering over it, attracted her and, without knowing why, she was led inside by an inner voice. “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). Wendy was one among those other sheep, which Jesus must also bring to the flock; she heard the voice of the shepherd and her life has changed: ‘I was always asking myself about the afterlife. It was so scary to think that there is nothing after this life and we just disappear. Now, I know that there is eternal life for those who believe in Jesus and it fills my heart with peace and joy.’
It is amazing to realize that Jesus knows us by our names (John 10:3). He knows our strengths and our weakness; He knows our talents and abilities. The knowledge of Jesus about each one of us is an intimate knowledge that only a relative or a close friend can have. It is based on an interpersonal relationship. Through constant fellowship, Jesus knows us well; He is familiar with us, knowing all dimensions of our personalities. He know us, the sheep who are already inside the fold, but He also knows those who are still outside the fold and He calls them by names so they can also experience the gift of everlasting life: “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:28, KJV). Wendy is one among them, but there are many more being called by Jesus to His fold.
The
question that has to be raised, however, is how we – who are in the fold -
respond to this thirst of other sheep for eternal life? Do we share with the
world the Good News about Jesus Christ? Can they stumble upon a Christian
community that faithfully preaches the message of the cross? This Easter in a
small city in China eighty people were brought to Christ and received the gift
of eternal life by being baptized. I asked how it happened. The priest in charge
of that community said: ‘through friendship. Our people shared their faith
with their non-Christian friends. This led to more inquiries and finally to
faith in Jesus and baptism.’ The heart of Jesus goes towards every creature of
this world. It is His dream to bring all of them under His lordship and gift
them with eternal life. But He needs us, His own, to go and proclaim the Good
News of salvation; He wants us to be present in this world and shine for the
world to see (Matthew 5:15-16).
My
Father gives them to me
I am always surprised by the stories of conversions, the stories of people coming to Christ. There is this basic dissatisfaction with life and thirst for something different; there is disagreement with things as they are. Wendy could not accept that there is no life after death; Mary could not cope with the void and emptiness of her heart; and John could not bear the heaviness of his sins. The pain of dissatisfaction was so persisting and hurting that they had to deal with it. Then the attraction to the message of the cross follows. The response to this attraction can take many different forms: one searches for the copy of the Bible; another enters a church and says a simple prayer: ‘God, if you really exist, show Yourself to me!’; still another approaches a Christian friend and asks him/her to share something about Jesus.
We
rightly say that faith is a gift. It is the Father who begins this wonderful
work in the hearts of those who long for a different life. Gently, He leads them
out of darkness into the light of the world - His Son - and Jesus fills their
hearts with peace and contentment. “My Father gives them to me,” is how
Jesus explains the mystery of conversion (John 10:29). And Jesus takes on
himself the responsibility and task to care for the sheep. He perfectly fulfills
that role, by giving his own life for the sheep: “I am the Good Shepherd. The
Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Under His care all
the sheep are safe and secure: “they shall never perish; neither shall anyone
pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28).
Conclusion
We
usually associate the parable of the Good Shepherd with vocation to pastoral
ministry. We pray that God will give us the shepherds after His own heart that
will tend the flock with dedication and care. But the parable also carries
another message, namely that of mission. There is no doubt that in every corner
of the world the Father places in the hearts of the people a longing for Jesus.
By listening to Jesus’ voice and following Him, we are called to go to all the
corners of the world, so that all people will have an opportunity to enter into
the fold. Our presence in the world, our communities filled with Jesus’
presence are the vehicles of God’s grace. To our surprise, we can be of help
to others in meeting Jesus, the Shepherd who satisfies the longings of
people’s hearts. And there is no greater joy than to see the lives of others
transformed after their encounter with living Christ.
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Comments
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