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Acts 11: 1-18

The Apostles and the brothers who were in Judea
heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God. 
So when Peter went up to Jerusalem
the circumcised believers confronted him, saying,
‘You entered the house of uncircumcised people and ate with them.” 
Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying,
“I was at prayer in the city of Joppa
when in a trance I had a vision,
something resembling a large sheet coming down,
lowered from the sky by its four corners, and it came to me. 
Looking intently into it,
I observed and saw the four-legged animals of the earth,
the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. 
I also heard a voice say to me, ‘Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.’ 
But I said, ‘Certainly not, sir,
because nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 
But a second time a voice from heaven answered,
‘What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.’ 
This happened three times,
and then everything was drawn up again into the sky.
Just then three men appeared at the house where we were,
who had been sent to me from Caesarea. 
The Spirit told me to accompany them without discriminating. 
These six brothers also went with me,
and we entered the man’s house. 
He related to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, saying,
‘Send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter,
who will speak words to you 
by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them
as it had upon us at the beginning,
and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said,
‘John baptized with water
but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 
If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us
when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
who was I to be able to hinder God?”
When they heard this,
they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying,
“God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.”

The Word of the Lord.

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The Acts of the Apostles describes the life of the early Church, and though in its infancy, the Church is already filled with tension. 

The disciples are questioning each other and disagreeing over many things.

As we hear in our first reading, could the Gentiles be saved? Or was salvation only for the Jews? Did Christians have to follow Old Testament rituals? Could you eat meat sacrificed to idols?  

What was the work of a deacon or a female deaconess? 

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Although Jesus instructed his Apostles for three years, he didn’t answer every question they had. Nor did Jesus leave answers for the questions that would arise as the Gospel started mingling with other cultures and religions.

The disciples would have to pray and discern together as a Church.

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We are no different today.

There seems to be an endless amount of questions and concerns about how the Gospel is relevant to our lives – and how the Church can minister to people from every walk of life.

It’s a challenge we’ll even feel here in our parish.

How will we bring people back to St. Pius X? How will we welcome people from different walks of life? How will we evangelize our young people and make the Gospel relevant to their lives?

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As we’re reminded in the Acts of the Apostles, we have to work together. We should voice our concerns – and not be afraid to disagree – but then we have to pray together. Discern together.

Be open to the Spirit, who often generates new ideas and creative solutions, and at times inspires change.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, enkindle in us the fire of your love, and you shall renew the face of the earth.

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Image credits: (1) Emmanuel Baptist Church. (2) www.adamhellyer.wordpress.com (3) Catholic World Report.

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Gospel: John 10: 11-18

Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why 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 on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Have you ever wondered why Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, and we, his sheep? 

Why not something with a little more pizzazz?

Something like, “I am the Mighty Lion. You are my cubs.” I’d rather be a lion cub than a senseless sheep.

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But that’s the point.

Sheep are defenseless. 

They have neither claws, nor paws, nor venom, nor fangs. When a wolf comes along looking for its next snack, sheep are an easy target.

When attacked, sheep literally run around in a big circle, hoping they’re not the one eaten! Imagine these sheep thinking, “Catch her! Catch him! Just don’t catch me!”

That furry frenzy reminds me of musical chairs. Push others aside! Save yourself!

Cowardice at its best.

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Sheep need a shepherd. 

Without him, they’re defenseless. Literally.

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Are we any different?

Just think about the frenzy caused by the Coronavirus. A single virus has thrown the entire world into a frenzy. A year of social distance and face masks has left all of us shaken. It’s hard to see our way out of this.

We need a shepherd.

The same idea applies when different crises litter our lives: health issues, financial problems, tense relationships.

Such experiences can really unnerve us, making us feel like we’re running around in circles. We all know that feeling of being flustered. Afraid. Defenseless.

We need a shepherd.

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So, where are the wolves in my life? What makes me feel insecure, as if I’m running around in circles?

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Saint Paul tells us, “No trial – no wolf – has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.”

Our shepherd will keep the wolves at bay.

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Even when we must walk through the valley of death, the Lord will be at our side.

Again, the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep applies beautifully. 

Sheep will not go anywhere their shepherd has not gone first. If he stands behind the flock and calls them, the sheep make a U-turn and gather quickly behind him. They prefer to be led. You might say, sheep have a “you first” mentality.

The shepherd goes first to assure his sheep that where they are going is safe.

Herein lies the power of the Easter message.

Good Shepherd Sunday, which we celebrate today, is above all else about death and resurrection. Death is the greatest “wolf” threatening us. But the tomb is empty! Our Good Shepherd is leading us all beyond the grave.

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This Gospel also speaks to us as a parish.

If a sheep gets separated from its flock, it starts to panic; it literally stands in place and shakes. This is why Jesus leaves the ninety-nine for the one lost sheep. Without him, it would perish. 

When Jesus finds the sheep, he brings it back to the flock – back to the Church – where it belongs. This is what we must do, also.

As we pray for an end to the pandemic, what an opportunity we have to gather the lost sheep, to invite them back to Saint Pius X. 

I dream of our parish being a place where families connect; where children and teenagers gather together to worship and to socialize; a place where burdens are shared; friendships are created; a place where we all derive a deep sense of meaning.

The Lord is asking us all to discern, “How can we create an even stronger sense of community? How can we gather the lost sheep? How can we increase our fold?”

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Now is the time to embrace that first pillar of our parish’s three-fold mission: building community, while increasing the size and strength of our flock.

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While sheep have no way of defending themselves – they have neither claws, nor paws, nor venom, nor fangs – they have their shepherd.

We can rest comfortably today, knowing we have our Good Shepherd and we have one another.

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Image credits: (1) www.churchofjesuschrist.org (2) WATV.org (3) www.romancatholiccop.com (4) Grace Lutheran Church, Yorba Linda, CA

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Acts 8: 26-40

The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,
“Get up and head south on the road
that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” 
So he got up and set out. 
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,
a court official of the Candace,
that is, the queen of the Ethiopians,
in charge of her entire treasury,
who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.
Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip,
“Go and join up with that chariot.” 
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,
“Do you understand what you are reading?” 
He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” 
So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 
This was the Scripture passage he was reading:

    Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
        and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
            so he opened not his mouth.
    In his humiliation justice was denied him.
        Who will tell of his posterity?
            For his life is taken from the earth.

Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,
“I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?
About himself, or about someone else?” 
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,
he proclaimed Jesus to him.
As they traveled along the road
they came to some water,
and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. 
What is to prevent my being baptized?” 
Then he ordered the chariot to stop,
and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,
and he baptized him. 
When they came out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,
and the eunuch saw him no more,
but continued on his way rejoicing. 
Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news
to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

The Word of the Lord.

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The Acts of the Apostles describes the life and activity of the early Church. 

It was a dynamic era filled with both wins and losses. Yesterday, for example, Saint Stephen was stoned to death, becoming the first Christian martyr. 

But today the Church gains a disciple.

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Philip is leaving Jerusalem when he comes across an Ethiopian man reading the prophet Isaiah.

“I beg you,” the man says to Philip, “about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself or about someone else?”

Because Philip knows his faith, he’s able to break open the scriptures, explaining to this Ethiopian man that Jesus is the Messiah, the one whom Isaiah foretold.

This man believes and is baptized. Another disciple gained.

Tradition tells us this man went on to evangelize all of Ethiopia, which still has an active Christian community today.

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How many people do we know like this Ethiopian man – they’re either searching for answers or are on the fringe of belief?

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Even Catholics can fall into this category. Some have drifted from the Church. Others are hungry to know more about our faith, but are unsure where to turn.

If we are to bring them to Christ like Philip did, then we must know our faith – and why it matters to us.

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If someone asked you, “Who is Jesus? Why do you believe in him? Why does faith matter?”  

What might you say? 

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Image credits: (1) ThinkTheology.org (2) School of Rembrandt, The Baptism of the Eunuch 1632 (3) Ascension Press