Bible Study: Acts 11, 1 to 18 and John
10, 1 to 10.
Wherever sheep or poultry or any sort of animals are kept, there
are always two likely categories of visitors; the shepherd or the thief. While
the shepherd is concerned about the wellbeing of the sheep, the thief is
concerned about what he or she is to benefit from the sheep. The shepherd feeds
the sheep, provides pasture and warmth for them and develops a personal
relationship with them; he gets to know the sheep by name and even at a
distance, the sheep respond to his voice. However the thief conscious of his
intention does not enter by the door, he is a stranger to the sheep, and he
comes pretending to care for them but eventually all he does is to steal, kill
and destroy.
A true shepherd does not discriminate between the sheep based on
their past or their ethnic affinity. Everyone is welcome and everyone is
granted access to the abundant life the shepherd brings. This was the
experience of Peter in the first reading today. In a vision, he was made to
understand that the mission of evangelization was never intended to be limited
only the traditional Jews but the Gentiles as well. St. Paul would later add in
Galatians 3:27-29 “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves
with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free,
there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And
if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to
the promise.”
What kind of shepherd are you? Do you really care about abundant
life for your sheep or you are simply looking after them for the sake of the
meat they would eventually provide? Are you a true shepherd or simply a thief?
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, shepherd of my soul, you came to bring
me abundant life, remove anything that would prevent me from enjoying this
abundant life and help me to avoid discriminating my fellow sheep. Amen.
God bless you. Good morning. Be
Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. Happy new week.
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