This Sunday is also called Good
Shepherd Sunday, as well as Vocation
Sunday. After reading the latter name, it struck me as a little odd that
vocations weren't mentioned. Even in the reflections that I read, Vocation Sunday wasn't
mentioned.
In the First Reading, we see the first Gentiles who were
converted. How disappointed the apostles must have been to have the Jews turn
against them & not follow them. They were “their people”. It seemed like
their job to spread the Word of God was being sabotaged by the very people who
should have accepted it. But the
Gentiles heard and listened. Not only that, but they believed. I’m not a
theologian, but it seems to me that these Gentiles are the first Christians as
we know them today. (If you are a theologian and I’ve gotten this
wrong, please let me know!) In Acts 13:51, the apostles shook the dust from their feet in protest against them, and went to
Iconium. After being so horribly
treated, they were able to just walk away from the situation and move on. They
were able to forgive and forget. I
don’t know about you, but that’s something with which I have an extremely hard
time. At what point do you walk away from a situation and say just forget it, and be able to really
forget it? I’ve said many times that I
can forgive, but I don’t forget. Maybe
visualizing the shaking the dust from my
feet will help. The apostles knew
the right time to walk away and talk to people who were open to hearing the
Word. They seemed to have been pretty persistent up until this point. They were
jailed, but continued to teach the Word up until now. Maybe they had just enough; maybe God said, Enough is enough. Maybe they realized
that you can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. It all goes back to having free will. I can’t imagine how hard that
must have been for them: to feel like they were failing.
During Mass, the Deacon gave the Homily. He said that Jesus is the
Master Storyteller, relating his stories not only to those in His day, but also
to us today. We only have to hear His voice. This is necessary if we want to
exist for Him. We can achieve eternal life if we listen and follow Him.
How can we do this? It can be as simple as being there when someone needs you
or being nice to someone you don’t like. It costs no money, just a little bit
of time.
What are your views on the Readings
I think forgiveness is not always easy, but it is easier to do than to forget so we agree on that point. Something I need to work on! I often reflect on how the Jewish people can continue (to this day) to not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. We have friends (husband & wife) who are Jewish and Protestant. I just find it so hard to imagine not believing, especially when so much has been proven scientifically and through archaeology. Of course I wonder the same about atheists and Muslims too, but so much of the Old Testament ties right into the New Testament. Someday we will all know for sure!!
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