17 May 2011, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Reading 1
Acts 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
Responsorial PsalmR. (117:1a)

All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those who know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 10:22-30

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”

Meditation: John 10:22-30

“My Father … is greater than all.” (John 10:29)




Jesus’ Jewish interlocutors sounded frustrated. “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”Jesus, too, seemed to have reason to be frustrated. “I told you, and you do not believe.” What was going on?

The questioners were looking for intellectual information so that they could categorize this man—and then condemn him. But Jesus was after something different: a response of faith. Sadly, however, he concluded: “You do not believe, because you are not among my sheep” (John 10:26). For Jesus, belonging is more fundamental than intellectual propositions. Those who are united to him know who he is from the inside.

Barnabas had this kind of knowl­edge. Something new was happening in the Christian community at Antioch: Gentiles were being converted to Christ. The church in Jerusalem, composed almost entirely of Jews who had accepted Jesus as Messiah, sent Barnabas to evaluate this new development.

Barnabas could have made a fac­tual report including the answers to many questions: Do the Gentile Christians outnumber the Jewish Christians? Are they being circumcised and observing other essential provisions of the Jewish Law? But instead, he asked: What is God accomplishing here? Do these new believers bear the mark of being the Lord’s sheep, the mark of love? How can we encourage them to remain in close fellowship with Christ? And so: “When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faith­ful to the Lord in firmness of heart” (Acts 11: 23).

Often, we too ask the wrong questions. We look for information we can use against someone. We seek answers to theological puzzles. We get frustrated when God seems to tum a deaf ear to our petitions or when we feel him nudging us to become the answer to the need we’ve laid at his feet. Instead, let’s be eager to discover where God is at work and how we can fit into what he is doing. Let’s be attentive to his Spirit moving us to draw closer to his heart and to put others in living touch with his love.

”Jesus, I have a lot of questions, but what is on your heart and mind today? Where is your Spirit at work today? How can I show the world that belong to your flock?”