The Shepherd’s Call: Go and Make Disciples
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
John 10:22-30
The feast of the Dedication took 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 1 Messiah, 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 2 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.”
Grace Prayed For
This passage calls us to pray for the grace to recognize and heed the voice of the risen Christ in our daily lives. We can ask for the courage to boldly proclaim his identity, even when faced with doubt or opposition, and for a deeper trust in the eternal security we have in him and the Father.
Reflection
In the chill of winter, during the Feast of Dedication, the passage from John reveals Jesus walking in the temple, surrounded by those who question his very identity. It mirrors the feeling we might have when, following Easter, we face a world that still seems to be in the dark, a world that doesn’t acknowledge the light of the resurrection. Just as Jesus stood firm amidst doubt, his resurrection enables us to stand firm in our belief and boldly proclaim his truth to a world that may not understand.
Think of the power in Jesus’ words: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” The resurrection confirms that his voice is the voice of eternal life, the voice that conquers death itself. We are held, eternally safe, not just in Jesus’ hand, but in the Father’s hand as well, a double assurance of unwavering love and protection. The resurrected Christ gives us the strength to proclaim the Gospel and the certainty that no power on earth or in hell can snatch us from his grasp. Knowing that we are held in such a loving, powerful grip fuels our desire to draw others to the Good Shepherd.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
This scripture passage draws us closer to Jesus by revealing his unwavering commitment to his followers. He knows us individually, calls us his own, and offers us eternal life. He emphasizes his unity with the Father, showing us that our relationship with him connects us directly to the Father’s love and power. We are invited to cultivate a deep, personal relationship with the risen Christ, confident in his promise to never let us go.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post