You are Either a Shepherd or a Thief.

Homily for April 23, 2018.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10. 

Wherever sheep or poultry or any sort of animals are kept, there are always two likely categories of visitors; the shepherd or the thief. A shepherd feeds the sheep, provides pasture and warmth for them and develops a personal relationship with them; that is, he gets to know the sheep by name.

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. As we know, Jesus was clearly referring to the devil, the tempter who comes with temptations of different sorts pretending to care for us while his intention is to kill, steal and destroy.

In a similar vein, we are either shepherds or thieves. There is no middle ground; it is either we are after the wellbeing of those under us or after our own pockets. Again, a thief never enters by the gate but jumps through the fence. This represents the dubious things we do just to get into positions of leadership such as electoral malpractices, joining secret societies, bribing, stealing or even killing our fellow human beings.

A true shepherd does not discriminate between the sheep based on their past or their ethnic affinity. Whereas, the thief thrives by creating division and sowing seeds of hatred and ethnic rivalry among the sheep.  

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. Before God, all men are equal and a good shepherd knows this.

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.”

Hence the question today is: Am I a shepherd or a thief?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, shepherd of my soul, give me a heart that welcomes rather than discriminates my fellow sheep. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 4^th Week of Easter. Bible Study: Acts 11:1-18 and John 10:1-10).