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Homily for Fourth Sunday of Easter

READ: (Acts 2: 14, 36-41; 1 Pet 2: 20-25; Jn 10: 1-10)

REFLECT: Jesus is the door to new life, fullness of life and eternal life...

Dear friends, we are in the fourth Sunday of Easter. We all of us know the function of a door in the house. It becomes an access to enter house. The primary function of the door is to allow entry to the home and exit for people to come out.  It provides safety and security for those who live in the house. It serves as a connecting link between the various internal portions of a house. It becomes a barrier to noise and blocks unwanted people from coming into the house. The liturgy of the word invites each one of us to experience the entrance and exit of life in and through Jesus, who is a door, making accessible for all of us with an entry, giving us fullness and eternal life. So based on the liturgy of the word, I would like to share with three points of reflection as to how we can obtain an entry into the door of eternal life by Jesus.

1.     Repentance of life:

We all know that repentance is regret for our sins and wrongdoing, turning to God in trust and confidence to renew life in the Lord. Repentance provides a platform to be free from sins and obtain the forgiveness of sins form God. As sin becomes a barrier for each one of us stumble and fall in the path of spiritual progression, repentance makes it possible to obtain the spiritual agility and grow spiritually sound and strong. Indeed we Christians are privileged to obtain the repentance and forgiveness of sins by the self-effacing love of Christ on the cross. Therefore, repentance of life becomes an access for all of to enter into the door to eternal life. Let us be for sure that the one who repentance, Jesus opens his door to welcome the eternal home.

Something similar we find in the First reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the bold proclamation of peter about Jesus’ resurrection continues and seeks for a concrete expression of it in life. That’s why when peter proclaims about Jesus’ resurrection some of them who heard Peter ask him, what they need to do. So Peter declares them to repent, baptize and obtain forgiveness in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, the question we need to ask each one personally, “What we need to do?” The answer is the same as given by peter “repent, be baptized and obtain the forgiveness of sins.” We all of us as Christians and Catholics have been baptized, but what more could we do enter the door of Christ. It is by repenting for our sins, renewing the baptismal promises that we have professed and relive or become a new creation in the Lord. However, let repentance be the starting point of the renewal of life to enter the door of Christ. 

Very beautifully Pope Francis says, “Only a repentant heart will receive salvation. If your heart is not a repentant heart, if you do not listen to the Lord, if you don't accept correction and you do not trust in Him, your heart is unrepentant.”  Yes, let us be assured a repentant heart opens the door, the heart of Jesus. Let us remember one of the thieves, who was crucified side by received the gift of paradise, because he accepted that he was a sinner and sinful and which deserved the punishment he was undergoing. Similarly, if we repent for our sins and seek God’s forgiveness, Jesus will open the door of paradise for us to be part of the eternal home and have new life in God.

2.     Set example in life:

Setting examples is to behave in such a way that others copy what we do. It becomes a inspiration and motivation for others to be good examples in life. Setting examples or exemplary life is seen in the word one speaks and the action that one does. There is coherence in what one speaks and does. As a result, it sets standard of life for people to follow. One of the reasons why exemplary life matters is that one shows people how well you want others to do things. People learn from us more in what we do than what we say, because it touches and sinks deep into the bottom of their hearts, eliciting a response so good and inspiring.  Exemplary life is not just lived when one feels like doing or giving up when the other does not wish. It should be a daily routine of life, whether one sees or does not see, the exemplary people continue to remain good examples in both good and bad.

Something similar we hear in the second reading from first letter of Peter that there is no credit when you sin and are beaten for it, because you bear the consequence for what one is done. But if one does good and suffer for the good, it is a gracious thing in the sight of God. So peter reminds us that Jesus has set us an example that we might follow. Yes, what sort of example is it? It is the example of righteousness; committed no sin but endured shame; no deceitfulness either in words or deed but uttered truth and remained true to the Father; suffered yet did not threaten others with the power he had; we all strayed as a wandering sheep without a focus and fold, but Jesus as a shepherd brought us to the sheepfold as one family. So this is the example that we are called to witness and live the same in our lives.

Pope Francis asks a question, “Why do so many people follow Jesus? The crowds followed Jesus because they were astonished by His teaching; His words brought wonder to their hearts, the wonder of finding something good and great. Other people were speaking, but they did not reach the people. The Pope mentioned four groups of people that were speaking at the time of Jesus. The four important Groups of people in the Bible as Pope Francis Says, The Pharisees - their morals and living standards were not matching with the faith. They laid heavy rules on people. The Sadducees - they had no faith but have lost faith, because they were men who relied on political power and economic power and not on God’s power. Zealots - they were revolutionaries, because they wanted to make revolution to free the people of Israel from the Roman occupation. It was something good but they did not persist. Essenes or Qumrans lived in caves and isolation, away from people. These were the monks who consecrated for God in prayer and contemplation. But they were too far for people to follow.

Yes, all these four groups of people in the bible, yet they did not have as much as followers that Jesus had, because they did not create any impact on people to follow them. But Jesus amazed people at the wonders he did, with authority in teaching, healing people, going out of his way to associate with people who at the edge of society, loved sinners. Yes! Jesus set an example, a standard and pattern of life to follow to obtain eternal life. Even if we cannot work wonders or heal or teach authoritatively like Jesus, but if we make efforts to live like Jesus, setting good examples, Creating an impact and inspiring others to follow, we shall be part of the eternal home that God has prepared for each one of us. Today, each of us are called to be shepherds; pope- for the Church, bishop- for the diocese, priest- for the parish, parents- for a family, political leaders – for country and society.

So today every leader need not merely have vision and mission rather he/she should have genuine convictions and be persons of good actions for others to look up to and live the virtues and values of life. The world has manifold good examples, let us set the world with good examples. For us Christians Jesus is always an example par excellence, by his life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection. It is all because of one single purpose and reason, that is, God loved us in Jesus. We shall allow Jesus to continue inspiring us to be good examples in life.

3.     Enter the sheepfold of Jesus:

We all know sheepfold is a place of shelter for sheep. It is a strong fenced enclosure for the protection of the sheep gathered within it. The sheep finds itself safe and secure, because they know that their shepherd is around for their help and support. The sheep places their trust and confidence in the Shepherd. Yes, if we want to be part of the sheepfold of Christ or to find safety and security in Jesus, we need to trust Jesus and enter the sheepfold of Jesus. The one who repents for sins and is baptized, the one who sets good examples after the heart of Christ can become part of the sheepfold of Christ, because God takes delight in the one who returns to him with a repentant heart for renewal of life.

Today’s gospel reading presents to us Jesus as the true shepherd and the real gate through whom we obtain new life, abundant life and eternal life. Perhaps the Gospel reading differentiates between the true shepherd and a thief. Jesus as a shepherd enters the sheepfold to give and save life. The true shepherd knows the sheep by name, goes before the sheep, they know and hear the voice of the shepherd and follow the shepherd, but the thief who enters the sheepfold steals, kills and destroys, the sheep won’t know or hear the voice of a stranger, the sheep will not follow rather flee because they sense the danger in unfamiliar person or person’s voice. So Jesus is the ultimate gate of new life and real life and good life.

Yes, in order to enter the sheepfold of Christ we need to be true sheep that listens to the voice of Jesus and follow Jesus. Jesus makes a clear mention of the false shepherds by saying, “all those who came were thieves and robbers and the sheep did not hear them.” Certainly, the sheep did not hear the voice of the false shepherds or thieves because their voice was not familiar to them and their words were not genuine and loving.  We all know that in a sheepfold, there are various flocks gathered by many shepherds at night under a watchful care of the caretaker. At dawn, when the shepherds call out their sheep, they hear the voice of the shepherd and move to their own shepherds respectively. That’s the beauty of the sheep, because they know the voice of the shepherd, they hear the voice of the shepherd, they respond to the voice of the shepherd by moving close to the shepherd where he calls and takes them to green pastures.

Today, if we want to become part of the sheepfold of Christ, who is the real gate and true shepherd, we need to become familiar with the voice and words of Jesus, hear his words and respond to Jesus by following. So that we can be lead to green pastures for feeding, lead to the streams of water to quench our thirst and obtain fullness of life that God gives in Jesus. Most of our problem is to give up knocking at the door or gate of Jesus, when adversity knocks at us or when Jesus does not open or respond to our knocks. We are saddened at times or feel shattered, but we need to continue knocking the door of Jesus, because Jesus hears our pleas and certainly open the door or his gate to obtain life in fullness.

Pope Francis very beautifully shares that Jesus is not only the gate; he is also the way, the path to follow on our journey. He said there are many paths that we can follow, some perhaps more advantageous than others in getting ahead, but they are "misleading, they are not real: they are false. The only path is Jesus. Some of you may say: ‘Father, you're a fundamentalist.’ No, simply put, this is what Jesus said: ‘I am the gate’, ‘I am the path,’ Jesus gives life to us. Simple, it is a beautiful gate, a gate of love, it is a gate that does not deceive, and it is not false. It always tells the truth, but with tenderness and love.”

So let us not look out for other gates like other gods or other worship places to solve our problems or pour out our sorrows which may temporarily solve issues but persist or outwardly shiny, costly, pleasant to senses rather look upon Jesus the real gate or real door, where everyone has an access to enter, where everyone can be accommodated, provided we trust in God, repent for our sins, look and knock at the door of Jesus to enter the sheepfold of God.

RESPOND:

Do we repent for our sins to enter the sheepfold of Christ?

Do we set good examples to inspire others like Jesus and take them closer to God?

Do we approach Jesus the real gate and door or do we seek other gates for temporary benefits?

Let us repent, set good examples and approach Jesus the real gate and door to enter the sheepfold of God and enjoy abundant and eternal life. Amen.

God bless us all! Live Jesus!

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS

rameshvkmsfs@gmail.com

9500930968