Tuesday Reflection

Daily Gospel Reflection May 5^th 2020

Gospel                                                                   JN 10:22-30

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”

Dear Friends and Family,

            This week we hear the repeated use of the sheep and shepherd imagery.  Today we hear how some are among his sheep and some are not.  Those sheep that are his have seen his work and have heard his voice and have chosen to follow Jesus.  To those sheep Jesus promises that they will have eternal life and never perish.  Jesus goes on to say, “No one can take them out of my hand,”  “No one” is a large group.  Have you ever placed yourself in that group?  We often think of “No one” as an external force or person that is trying to lead me from God.  But what if that imagery includes my foolishness as well?  Sinners can often lose their focus on God and obsess on their weakness and limitations.  Imagine the consequences of our belief that Jesus will not allow our own failures and flaws to keep us away from Him.  This should bring comfort and healing to our woundedness that can only come from a merciful, protective God. 

            Those that have chosen the path of forgiveness, know of the love that Jesus is talking about.  The action of forgiveness is rooted in the love of self and the love of others.  When we forgive, we set ourselves free of the pain, anger that the injustice inflicted.  That kind of work is the foundation of what Jesus did because his actions are all rooted in love.  The kind of love he learned from the Father.  If this was not encouraging enough consider that we, the sheep of the Jesus’ flock, not only rest in Jesus hands we also find ourselves in the Fathers hands.  So, if we rest in both Jesus hands and the Fathers hands, and where those two are, the Spirit dwells, can there be anything that could tear us from a protection like that.  Let us pray that we will always be aware of the protection that is found the loving hands of our Triune God.