Fulness of Life
Fourth Sunday of Easter - A
Acts 2:14a, 36-41; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber" (John 10:1). These words were spoken after the story of a blind man healed by Jesus, who was cast out by the Pharisees from the flock for which they considered themselves responsible (John 9:1-41). Moreover, they threatened to throw out from the synagogue anyone who confessed that Jesus is the Christ (John 9:22; Acts 2:36). They did not believe and tried to prevent others from believing in Jesus. Unaware of their blindness, they remained in sin (John 9:41).
"The sheep hear his voice" (John 10:3). The voice of the Pharisees was not the voice of a shepherd who could lead to the restful waters (Psalm 23:2). But, another voice said: "I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed" (Ezek. 34:16). When Jesus learned that the healed man had been expelled, he found him and brought him to His fold (John 9:35-38). He did not only recover his sight; in Jesus, he also met the true Shepherd. Now with the psalmist, he can say: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want” (Ps. 23:1).
"Brothers, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Return to "the Shepherd and Guardian" of our souls (1 Pet. 2:25) and become his sheep, shows the way of salvation the one who Jesus commanded to feed His flock (John 21:15). The Lord leads us to green pastures, the water of rest (Ps. 23:2) and anoints our heads with oil (Ps. 23:4). For the Fathers of the Church, the "green pastures" represent the Church's teaching - the Scriptures and the apostolic tradition, "quiet waters" are the symbol of baptism, and "the oil" stands for the Holy Spirit. But there is still more. The shepherd also sets a table for his sheep and their cup is overflowing (Ps. 23:5) - a reference to the Eucharist. Three thousand people who Saint Peter brought into Christ's flock experienced that. They were baptized, received the Holy Spirit, and participated in the Eucharist (Acts 2:41-42)
Jesus came so that we would have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). There is a huge difference between the Word who became flesh (John 1:14) and us. The Word is begotten of the Father before time, we were created in time. Being God, the Word possesses in himself God's life (John 1:1,4) - indestructible and eternal. We human beings have the breath of life - short and transient. The Word of God lasts forever, but we are like grass that withers and fades away (Is. 40:6-8). And so Jesus comes to make us partakers in that indestructible, eternal, and divine life (John 3:14-16; 2 Pet. 1:4). How? Through the Spirit of the Living God who we have received in baptism (Acts 2:38).
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Ps. 23:4). The shepherd brought us to "quiet waters". On this side is sin, on the other side is righteousness. The passage from sin to righteousness leads through a certain experience of death. To live for righteousness, we have to die to sin first (1 Pet. 2:24). And so we enter the water of baptism without fear because Christ is with us (Rom. 6:3-4). Through the narrow gate (Matt. 7:13; John 10: 7), we have entered the narrow path (Ps. 23:3; Matt. 7:14). Where does this path lead? It leads us to the Lord's house and to the fulness of life (Ps. 23:6; John 10:9). There we will no longer hunger or thirst, for our Good Shepherd will bring us to the springs of living water and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev. 7:13-17).