4^th Easter Sunday

Acts 4: 7-12 Ps 118  1Jn 3:1-2 John 10: 11-18

1. In a dialogue between a Jewish Rabbi and a Catholic priest, it was said that the Christians believe that God gave God’s only begotten son to every faithful Christian to bring about Salvation. The Rabbi shared similar thoughts, God gave God’s only Word: the Torah to the People of Israel to bring about the redemption of the world. Both these truths are borne out by the experience of the believers of these two faiths.

We know that God does not go back on the Word of God. In fact God has said through his prophets, Jeremiah and Ezekiel

I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31: 33:

“You will be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36: 28.

In this context the words of Peter seem rather harsh and it would seem that God has moved from the Jews to the Christians! God is a faithful God.

• It is in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, this man has been healed.
• There is no salvation in any other name
• No other name given among human beings, in which we must be saved.

2. We have to remember that Peter was speaking in a limited world-view, and with the firm belief that the “end of the world” was just around the corner. Hence he had the audacity to hurl accusations against the authorities and to make assertions which he would have toned down were he to live like us, 2000 years later.

As one man said, “if the world were to end on January 1, 2010, I would travel around the world in executive class. I would “max” out my credit cards. I would take several mortgages out on my home and enjoy these six months in luxury. I would not bother about eating healthy foods like bran, cholesterol free diets, or be concerned about sugar free desserts.”

2000 years after Peter, we have our eyes opened, we have broadened our horizons and hopefully indulge in intelligent and compassionate dialogues.

3. In the struggle for “being right”, for power and getting the upper hand, compassion and level-headedness has suffered. This can be seen in debates between pro-life and pro-choice groups – for example. Actually one would hardly call them debates. They are more diatribes where there is much evidence of uncontrolled anger, so much so that Fr. Kavanaugh sj has said, Christians seem to be known not so much for how we love, but rather how we hate. We throw words like hypocrites, shameful, scandalous and vicious at those who do not hold our point of view. These are more at the person, and have little to do with the issue at hand.

4. And so we read the words of Peter, “in no other name is there salvation” as more the lifestyle of Jesus: a person who was compassionate and caring, loving and accepting people in spite of their weaknesses. In that sense there is no salvation outside this manner of life. It is one that is common, to all people who sincerely seek the Path of the Lord.

If we do not accept this sense of “no other name”, then we Christians would be arrogant to those who are not Christian. In this day and age, where there is inter-faith dialogue, where we learn to respect that there are other ways of achieving  a personal relationship with God, - we cannot afford to be myopic. Furthermore it would act like a two edged sword: all those who have not heard of the name of Jesus - could, would and should accuse us of not making the name of Jesus known through the ages, and through the world.

5. In the second reading, John says as much. Whereas, Paul would write to a distinct community about a particular issue or problem, John is writing to the entire church about love and relationship to God. John in this sense goes beyond taking “in no other name” in its literal sense. He paints a picture of a loving God who invites all on an individual basis into a personal and loving relationship.

6. Jesus will pick this up as he describes himself as the good shepherd. He is not like the hired hands, who will desert the flock at a sign of danger. Jesus is a good shepherd in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David. He will lay down his life for his sheep.

Whereas Peter’s “no other name” would exclude people who have not heard the name of Jesus.

Whereas Peter’s “no other name” would make us Christians executive class and all the rest “economy”, the Good Shepherd

• Will lay down his life for his sheep
• Will gather his sheep into his fold, since he knows his sheep
• Will keep the flock open to all, so that we may all be one nation under God.

Our readings today encourage us to be open and generous as the good shepherd and avoid the ghetto mentality of we versus the rest of the world. It was and is a world that God so loves that God sends the only Son of God. Let us rejoice and be glad.