Are you open to the Word?
To be disciples of Jesus, we must be open to the grace of God’s Word. In John’s Gospel, Jesus says, My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Jesus has intimate knowledge of all creation, and those who hear his voice choose to follow him. They become, as Psalm 100 reminds us, his people, the sheep of his flock. This was true of the people of Israel whom the psalmist addresses; theirs was a particular and special relationship with God, who chose them out of all nations and tended them. Like them, we must be open to the Word, open to any and all of the Lord’s instructions on the journey, choosing to follow and to serve the Lord.
When, in the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas first reach Antioch in Pisidia, almost the whole city gathers to hear the Word of the Lord, and many respond positively when Paul urges them to remain faithful to the grace of God. A week later, however, the Jewish authorities contradict what Paul says, refusing that grace as they are unwilling to be open to the Word of the shepherd given to them.
Jesus died for the sake of all humankind in an act of total self-giving. In the Book of Revelation, John encourages the ones who have survived the time of great distress to stay true to their faith, to not lose sight of the grace given to them, to remain open to the Lord no matter the threat, for Jesus the Lamb will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, salvation itself.
The Lord offers us his grace; we can accept or reject it. He will not coerce faith, but he will faithfully invite us to faith, over and over again. It is up to us to open to the Word of God, that we might hear his voice, and thus trust in the Lamb as our shepherd who will lead us to springs of life-giving water as well.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.classic.wordclouds.com
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