THE GOOD SHEPHERD

God's forgiveness and salvation is not exclusive to a selected few but is given to all. We do not have to belong to a particular race. We have all been qualified by God Himself. God's love is open to all. We are expected to extend this same love to our brothers and sisters regardless of race and culture. Oftentimes we are guilty of discriminating whenever we come in contact with people who are different so to speak or those who do not conform to our standards. Whether we admit it or not we are all guilty of this and we should follow Peter's example of acknowledging God's universal love to all of us, Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 11: 1-18

...‘What God has made clean, you are not to call profane...If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?” 18 When they heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, “God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles, too.”

Only in God can we find true satisfaction. In Him alone is the thirst of our soul quenched. Whenever I hear the song which has the same thought as the psalm reading for today I always imagine and picture a deer panting and drinking water in the stream. This kind of longing and thirst we have all experienced one way or another in our lifetime whether it be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. We may search long and hard but find none that can fully satisfy if we fail to recognize the rivers of Living Water which only God can give and provide. Amen. Hallelujah!


Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4
R: Athirst is my soul for the living God.
1 [2] As the hind longs for the running waters, so my soul longs for you, O God. 2 [3] Athirst is my soul for God, the living God. When shall I go and be hold the face of God? (R) 43: 3 Send forth your light and your fidelity; they shall lead me on and bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling-place. (R) 4 Then will I go in to the altar of God, the God of my gladness and joy; then will I give you thanks upon the harp, O God, my God!

It is very important that we follow the Good Shepherd so that we don't end up in the hands of the enemy whose only goal is to steal, slaughter and destroy. We are safe in the guiding love of Jesus as long as we consciously follow Him. Only Jesus can satisfy our souls and make us whole. He'll give us peace we never knew, sweet love, joy and heaven, too. These are the lyrics of a charismatic song that I have always loved to sing. In today's gospel the message of God is very clear, we should know and recognize the voice of God and the path that leads to Him. Let us not allow ourselves to be led astray by the deception of the enemy whose only aim is to steal our joy, slaughter and destroy our peace. If we are bothered by some concerns let us always approach and never leave the flock that our Good Shepherd cares for. In Him we are surely safe and secure. We ought to be careful though that we do not fall for the trap of the enemy and this world. We have to know and identify who really is the Good Shepherd. We've got to know the difference and be very discreet in whom we place our confidence and trust. The false shepherd exploits, feeds his ego and makes himself the center. He takes rather than gives. These things might be very familiar to us and might have experienced it with friends, relatives, even institutions and groups. Instead of leading us to green pasture we suffer in the process as we follow the hired hand. The Good Shepherd on the contrary does not run away when danger is imminent but rather is willing to die for the sheep. Jesus is dedicated to protect and keep us safe from the many dangers of this world. He is willing to be betrayed, denied, humiliated and crucified for our sake. We are like lost sheep and we need to follow Jesus all the way to the cross in Mt. Calvary. We must not be afraid for God's yoke is His will for us which we should accept. It does not take away our freedom nor it wears us down since the good news is out, the Good Shepherd is risen. He came for us that we might have life and have it abundantly. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 10:1-10
1 Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. 2 But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice...A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”