Fourth Sunday of Easter: The Christian Message

Lectionary Readings:

• Acts 13:14, 43-52. Many converts and persecution at Pisidian Antioch. Many Jewish people joined in accepting Jesus as the Messiah, others resisted, even vigorously. The apostles Paul and Barnabas turn all the more firmly to the gentiles.
• Revelations 7:9, 14-17. In vision John sees a huge crowd from every nation and race, gathering before the throne of the lamb. “The lamb will shepherd them” and these will never again hunger and thirst.
• John 10:27-30. My sheep know me, says Jesus, and no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Thoughts for your consideration: By John Gonzalez

This week’s lectionary readings describe a powerful historical turning point for the development of Christianity. The first reading describes for us an innovative moment where St. Paul and Barnabas take a distressful challenge from the Jewish population and turn it into a golden opportunity. Being reproached by members of his own Jewish community St Paul declares: “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.” With this singular event the great apostle takes the Jewish Jesus movement and shifts it from a Jewish to a Gentile audience.

To understand the great historical and social significance of this moment is it important to consider the context from which this shift takes place. It would not be fair to characterize this passage from St. Paul as a condemnation of the Jewish people. St. Paul is preaching a new and powerful message during the twilight of the Jewish Temple worship. Until 70 AD the mainstream Jewish community is defending it Temple tradition as they see themselves as a challenged group with their authority crumbling from a variety of internal and external factors. St. Paul’s missionary activity is during the 50’s AD and his message of forgiveness and eternal life for all is exciting for the God-fearing Gentile community but it is also challenging the established and defensive Jewish community. In this case the Jewish community in Antioch reacts much the same way any institutionalized and established organization would react if it is fiercely trying to defend its own precepts and doctrine. St. Paul is a marketing genius. In the midst of push back from an established religious community he takes the calculated risk to bring the Gospel message to a new community.  

In the Gospel and in the second reading we are assured by Christ that those of us who follow him will recognize the Good Shepherd and will enjoy eternal life. However, the fact of the matter is that many of us are not sure if we are on the right and narrow path that has been prescribed by Christ. This is a legitimate concern for many of the parishioners or retreatants that we encounter. It is also a legitimate concern for those of us who minister in the Church. We are conditioned by our own society and even though we may recognize that the wisdom of God is beyond and superior to social wisdom we become confused because we are constantly living within the social moment.

The Christian message is founded on Love and forgiveness. A message that is divisive and judgmental is not authentically Christian. The Christian faith has a prophetic message and as such it will have principles and positions. Because sin abounds in our world we continue to offer a message of individual and social repentance from the social idols that is pervasive in our culture but here again the Christian methodology is to compassionately offer people every opportunity to share in the Christian message not to carelessly shove it down their throats. The Christian social principles begin with the dignity of the human person and respecting the rights and responsibilities that flow from this inherent dignity. The other principles include the important role of the family, the promotion of the common good, the preferential option for the poor and the responsible care for all creation.

These principles come from the Gospel message and are interpreted through the tradition of Catholic social teaching. The principles have evolved in order to address contemporary issues of social concern but they are founded on the core message that the Apostles preached. This week, for example, we observe the Christian value of being responsible stewards of God’s creation as we contemplate Earth Day with our global human community. Many Catholic religious communities are doing what we can to continue promoting this principle along with the entire Gospel message and thus following in the footsteps of St. Paul and Barnabas. Jesus reminds us that the holistic words and examples of the Gospel will resonate with those who in truth aspire to follow the Good Shepherd. The message and ministries of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation is a sacred message that we will continue to preach even in the midst of oppositions from established organizations that are defensively protecting the status quo. Like St. Paul we will try to be innovative with marketing the Gospel message to those who can recognize the consistent and eternal message of the Good Shepherd.