Our readings this Sunday are from Acts of the Apostles, First Peter, and the Gospel from John.
The first reading, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, shows us the new Peter, a Peter emboldened by the power of the Holy Spirit. The same Peter who denied knowing Jesus three times in the hours before Christ's crucifixion is now standing and loudly calling out his fellow Jews for what happened. Peter proclaims to them that Jesus is Lord and Messiah, the very person for whom the nation of Israel had been waiting! The message strikes to their hearts and 3,000 repent and are baptized, receiving the same Holy Spirit who transformed Peter from hiding in the shadows to boldly proclaiming the truth about Jesus.
In our second reading, 1 Peter 2:20b-25, we hear directly from Peter about Jesus. The message isn't easy to hear, but it is timely as often the living Word of God is. Peter tells us about Jesus' suffering for us and how he was a model for our own suffering. Jesus' suffered and sacrificed for us out of love. We are told to do the same. As we are asked to sacrifice a little longer by participating in Mass via livestream broadcasts rather than gather at churches where we might put people at risk, Peter's message is as important now as it was when he shared this with his contemporaries.
Finally, in our Gospel, Jn 10:1-10, Jesus gives us a glimpse of his commitment to us by his "figure of speech" describing himself as the gate to a sheepfold. He tells us how sheep know their shepherds voice and follow him in and out of the sheepfold, an open-air circular pen with a single narrow opening. Shepherds would lay at night in front of the opening acting as a gate, keeping their sheep safely inside while preventing anyone or anything from entering. Jesus tells us he is the gate, committed to us so we "might have life and have it more abundantly."
Join us Sunday at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament via livestream at https://livestream.com/accounts/19963606/events/9101869.
In the peace of Christ,
Deacon Mike
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