DAILY HOMILIES #sheep

When Paul stood before the tribunal, he immediately noticed a severe division between the camps of those who brought him to trial. Applying the wisdom of a serpent and the innocence of a dove, Paul decided to take advantage of the division between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Paul introduced himself as a Pharisee who was on trial because of the issue of the resurrection of the dead. The moment he said this, there was an uproar in the assembly.

As Christians, we are constantly the subject of hatred by wolves who pretend to love us. Jesus does not pray that we should be taken out of the world. Jesus prays that we should be protected from the evil one. Even though we wrestle against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12), we are assured of God’s protection. We do not wrestle as victims but as victors, because Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

Jesus is saying, ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ While the previous commandment depends on yourself, this new commandment is based on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us. The newness of this commandment is that even if you don’t love yourself, you should try to love others by sacrificing for them.

Peter’s experience also reminds us of Jesus’ warning to the Jews: “Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able, from these stones, to raise children to Abraham.” (Matthew 3:9). Let us avoid pride. The fact that someone is not a church member does not mean they don’t have access to God. To successfully convert a person, you must respect and recognise their previous beliefs.

Jesus did not say, “All those who come to gather around me are my sheep.” Instead, He says: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me.” These three qualities distinguish the sheep of Christ: First, the sheep must hear the voice of Christ. How often do you read the Bible and meditate on it? Secondly, when Christ says “I know them,” no one can pretend to be his sheep; you are either with Christ or with another shepherd. Thirdly, Jesus says, “They follow me,” which means they behave like me. The sheep of Christ are Christ in the world.

According to John, “So many antichrists have come; therefore, we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us…. I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you know it and know that no lie is of the truth.” (1 John 2:18-21).

We often ask ourselves, “Where do I start? What impact will I even make?” Jesus came to save the whole world, and He had only thirty-three years to live on earth, thirty of which were spent in preparation. Today, the work Jesus began is still changing lives. The good you begin today, no matter how small, could snowball into something great; it might even outlive you.

Rather than withdraw from God’s presence because your conscience disturbs you, remember that God is more interested in healing your wounds (sin wounds us) than punishing you. There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Jesus started with prayer, and all through His public ministry, Jesus never joked with prayer. He would rise early in the morning, go to a quiet place to pray (Luke 4:42), and at the end of the day, after dismissing the crowd, he would go again to a lonely place to pray. (Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46). He would even spend a whole night praying (Luke 6:12). When you are prayerful, a certain aura goes with you; you don’t need to shout or make noise. Your very presence in any space is already a threat to demons. Jesus did not break a sweat dealing with the demon-possessed man. As we often say: “power pass power.”

When Jesus saw the great crowd that followed, he did not send them away but “had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34). This spirit of self-sacrifice is one shining characteristic that only good shepherds possess. In John 10:11, Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” What sacrifice am I making for those under my leadership? Do I care more about what I am gaining from my people?

Winning souls for God (evangelization) is a dangerous business; it is breaking out souls held captive by Satan, who does everything within his power to resist. However, we must never be afraid of whatever Satan throws at us because “even the hairs on our head are numbered.” As missionaries, we are valuable to God and enjoy divine protection. We need not fear those who can only kill the body.

Christianity is not a bed of roses. Jesus faced challenges from the beginning of his ministry to the end. Jesus had not even celebrated his first birthday on earth when Herod sought to kill him. Anyone who tells you that being a Christian is an escape from challenges and difficulties is lying to you. Moreover, removing souls from the grip of the devil is fighting a war. Jesus said: “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house.” (Mark 3:27).