sheep do not belong. They abandon the sheep as soon as they see the wolf coming; then the
wolf snatches and scatters the sheep. This is because the hired hand works for pay and
cares nothing for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and
I know the Father. Because of this, I give my life for my sheep. I have other sheep which are
not of this fold. These I have to lead as well, and they shall listen to my voice. Then there will
be one flock, since there is one shepherd.
The Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it
from me, but I lay it down freely. It is mine to lay down and to take up again: this mission I
received from my Father.”
Reflect
We all belong to different groups: a family, a parish, a nation, a cultural group. These groups
are defined by whom they include and by whom they exclude. Some people are in and others
are out. But God does not recognize our boundaries. His love and grace are available to all who
call on his name. In his vision, Peter was called to reach out to the Gentiles, sharing the Gospel
with them. Jesus assured is disciples that he would give his life for his sheep from other folds.
His kingdom is open to all who believe in him.
Unfortunately, too often we fail to follow these examples. We focus on our differences rather than
on our shared humanity. We foster division rather than seeking unity. We surround ourselves with
people who echo our own views rather than listening to other views and learning from them. But
this is not the way of Jesus. Jesus calls is to reach beyond our imagined boundaries to share faith,
hope, and love – even to the ends of the earth.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023