Fourth Sunday of Easter

Readings:
Acts 4:8-12
1 John 3:1-2
John 10:11-18

 

Thoughts for your consideration:

Last week we left the Jerusalem community trying to comprehend the Easter mystery. Through the name of Jesus, whom they crucified, a crippled beggar was healed by Peter. The readings included the Gospel from John in which Jesus himself explains the mystery of his death and Resurrection. We also read from Acts and the first letter from John in which both Peter and John attempted to explain not only the transformation of Jesus through the Resurrection, but also the transformed community life of the apostles.

 

In this week’s first reading we return to Peter and John, now before the council, again explaining the healing of the cripple. Peter had informed the community of their ignorance in having Jesus crucified. But now he admonishes the council for rejecting the cornerstone that is Jesus. What attracts my attention is that if we read a little ahead of today’s Gospel and first reading, we get a political picture of how the social powers of Jerusalem responded to Jesus and the early Christian community. Chapter 11 of the Gospel of John has Caiaphas declaring to the council “it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” With this declaration the Jewish council sought to have Jesus put to death.

 

In Acts, Caiaphas again shows up towards the middle of Chapter 4. The council’s attempt to silence the movement of Jesus by putting him to death has backfired. They are baffled at the apparent power and courage of these “uneducated and ordinary men” who followed Jesus of Nazareth. Now they realize that they have to be even more cautious. Instead of publicly punishing Peter and John they try to have them censured. This of course will also not work. A wise Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel explains why towards the end of Chapter 5; “if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them – in any case you may even be found fighting against God!”

 

I hear many people offer wonderful comments about the movie “The Passion of the Christ” by Mel Gibson. It is a good movie insofar as it allows us to experience the pain of Jesus’ Passion. But one criticism I offer is that it completely separates itself from the social causes that led Jesus to the Cross. Similarly it also excludes the social implications of what it means to be a Christian. In reading the Gospel of John and Acts one gets a sense of these social dimensions. Jesus challenged the powers of his time with his message of solidarity with all members of the human community, including the Gentiles and the poor. The image of the Good Shepherd is the image of the one who brings together all people who are marginalized from the single human community that was created by God the Father. Jesus tells us, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.”

 

The Apostles are very much aware of the social implications of being a follower of Christ. Peter and John recognize their call to heal the sick and to bring back the sheep that continue to be marginalized from the fold. They recognize this mission to promote the ultimate solidarity with all humanity that is the Kingdom of God.

 

In the second reading John uses an expression that conveys this image of solidarity under Christ. He reminds his community that “we are God’s children now.” We are part of this divine family and like our brother Jesus we must continue to challenge society by promoting the ultimate solidarity of God’s love for all humanity. That will inevitably challenge the power structures of today just as Jesus and the Apostles challenged the power structures of their day.

 

This solidarity calls us to reconcile all members of society both the wealthy and those who live in poverty. Catholic social teaching offers us the principle of the “Preferential Option for the Poor”. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development has a very simple and direct statement connecting Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Preferential Option for the Poor. It can be found at http://www.usccb.org/cchd/jesus_shepherd.shtml. Please take some time to reflect on this principle and our calling to follow the Good Shepherd.

 

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group:
• When have you experienced the care of a “Good Shepherd?”
• How has this experience helped you to shepherd others?
• The first letter of John refers to all of us as “children of God.”
• When have you experienced solidarity with those who are in need?
• When have you experienced a connection with people who were poor?