Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.
“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” — Revelation 3:20
It’s so easy for us to fall into a routine of comfort and safety. Human nature is designed to avoid risks, and so we naturally work hard to build up strong, safe pens and places where we can gather safely with our loved ones. Sometimes, this is a necessary respite for us, especially if we have gone through something tough. At other times, these “safe spaces” become places of complacency. If the sheep stayed in their pen, they would eventually starve and trample one another. If we stay only in our comfort zones, we also fail to grow, can turn on one another, and begin to starve spiritually.
Sometimes we need our shepherd to call us out of the gate, even sometimes to drive us out of the gate. To challenge us to move beyond what is comfortable. And yet, when he is finished driving us out, he walks ahead of us into that scary unknown.
During this Easter Season, the disciples were changed. The Holy Spirit drives them to share their experiences of the Risen Jesus with power and passion. Peter preaches to thousands and works miracles in the name of Jesus. Philip is sent off suddenly by an angel to travel towards Gaza and meet the Ethiopian eunuch. Saul, who thought his job was to protect the flock and drive out the wolves, discovers that he is, in fact, keeping the sheep from being fed, and fighting the shepherd who wants to take them out into new pastures.
Let us pray for the grace to recognize the voice of our shepherd and let the power of the Holy Spirit drive us to embrace unexpected challenges, to encounter others and risk doing new things, always in the name of Jesus. Amen! Alleluia!
Sister Molly Bernadette Spiering, CSFN
