PREPARATION

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Acts 4.5-12

5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders,
9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed,
10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.
11 This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.”
12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’

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REFLECTION

Having healed a man last week and used it to proclaim the crucifixion of Christ and the call to repentance, now Peter stands in front of the Synagogue leaders and not swayed by their position dares to tell them they killed the Messiah, and uses scripture that they would have known. Peter truly is being driven by something to speak so boldly. The fact is, that as we look at the events following Jesus' resurrection, we are both remembering the reality of this resurrection, but also looking forward to the event which move Peter and the others into lives that are so radical. 

 

 

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd:

therefore can I lack nothing.

2 He will make me lie down in green pastures:

and lead me beside still waters.

3 He will refresh my soul:

and guide me in right pathways for his name’s sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me

in the face of those who trouble me:

you have anointed my head with oil,

and my cup shall be full.

6 Surely your goodness and loving-kindness

will follow me all the days of my life:

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

 

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2nd Reading

1 John 3.16-24

16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

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REFLECTION

John writes to the believers and talks about the motivation to love and of being convicted by our hearts to love. If God is in us then we will be driven to action and This conviction is the sign that God is in us. Challenging words. If I am not convicted, is it because I am doing what God wants? Or is it, because God does not live in me? I think though that the most important word in this reading is 'LOVE'. This conviction is driven, not by fear, but love. The want for something, the compassion for the suffering and to fix wrongs. Placing the heart before the physical. To feel God's love. 

 

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Gospel

John 10.11-18

11 ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’

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REFLECTION

This parable is meant to reflect this LOVE. The LOVE Jesus has for his people and the LOVE Jesus people have for Jesus. Jesus gives his life and in return the sheep happily follow. They do not care where they go as long is Jesus is with them. They know where Jesus leads will be good. They fear nothing. Jesus provides everything. What does that look like in the church? It sounds irresponsible, dangerous, ignorant. Does God call us to such behavior? This is the struggle of faith.

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