THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday of the fourth week of Easter, 2022

Acts 11:1-18

Ps 42

John 10:1-10

I am the GATE

In this morning’s first reading (Acts 11:1-18), Peter asks the question, ‘Who am I to stand in God’s way?’ When the Holy Spirit came down upon the pagan Cornelius and his household Peter realized that God was doing something in the lives of these pagans and, at the very least, Peter’s role was not to get in the way of what God was doing. 

In the gospel reading (Jn 10:1-10), Jesus speaks of himself as the gate. Far from getting in God’s way, Jesus was the gate through whom God came to people and they came to God. Jesus is the open gate onto God. People can go freely in and out through him and experience the life of God. As Jesus says in that gospel reading, ‘I have come that they may have life and have it to the full’. There is a sense in which we all share in that role of Jesus to be the gate. We too are called to be openings for God, people through whom God can enter people’s lives, just as the Spirit of God entered the lives of Cornelius and his household through Peter in the first reading. At the very least, this will mean, in the words of Peter, not standing in God’s way. We have a role to play in each other’s lives but we also have to leave room for God to work.

There is a time to be the shepherd and a time to be the gate.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you always lead me in the way of true peace and safety. May I never doubt your care and not stray from your ways. Keep me safe in the shelter of your presence. Amen

+Remain blessed