Long before it happened

Jesus knows.

16 Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger[a] greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. 18 I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.’ 19 From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. 20 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”-John13:16-20

Jesus said, "I know those whom I have chosen." Despite Peter's denial of Jesus, His Majesty still chose him as His disciple. Despite the other disciples' abandonment of Jesus, His Majesty still chose them as His disciples. And despite Judas' betrayal, the truth is, Jesus still chose him as His disciple. If I were to see my future, and if I found out that this or that person will betray me later on, as early as now I am going to distance myself or avoid that person. But Jesus never sent Judas away because He knew that every body can change. Jesus said, "From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM." Jesus is preparing His disciples of what's going to happen. Perhaps this is also Jesus' way of saying to them all not to lose heart, not to despair, to be strong and to believe that He has forgiven them all long before the Passion and Crucifixion happened. Long before our miseries came to be, Jesus has a ready solution at hand. All we have to do is accept the outstretched hand He is offering to us.

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The right thing

Believe

44 Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, 45 and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. 48 Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, 49 because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”-John12:44-50

Jesus is inviting us all to believe Him. Jesus is so full of love that He does not condemn nor judge. It will be our very own actions, our very heart, that will judge us. True that sometimes we are victims of injustice. Jesus knows how to make it right. But most of the time, we invite injustice and condemnation into our very own lives through our decisions. Why cry over imprisonment if indeed we committed a criminal act? Everything is grace. Jesus knows how to make things right.

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Belonging to Jesus

Believe.

22 The feast of the Dedication[a] was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. 23 [b]And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?[c] If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you[d] and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,[e] and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 30 [f]The Father and I are one.”-John10:22-30

When a person's heart is close, it is difficult to open. When a person believes in something, no one or nothing can dissuade him/her from believing. Jesus' actions and words are so obvious. Many saw Jesus make miracles and extraordinary feats - healing incurable diseases, driving out demons, miracles, teaching with authority, etc. And yet, despite the obvious, the people do not want to believe. Today, there are still many people who try to discredit Jesus. But a true sheep that truly belongs to Jesus hears His voice, believes in Him even if others will not, follows Him even if others will not. To whom do we belong - to Jesus or to a godless world?

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The Gate

Jesus is the Gate.

1 [a]“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold[b] through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. 2 But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 [c]When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. 5 But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” 6 Although Jesus used this figure of speech,[d] they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.7 [e]So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 [f]All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.-John10:1-10

Yesterday, Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Today, Jesus is the Gate. Let's pretend we do not yet know that He is the Good Shepherd. If Jesus is the Gate in today's Gospel, then who is the shepherd that went through the gate? Or who are the shepherds that He opened the gate for? Or how can He identify the true shepherd? The true shepherds who went through the gate are the many people who possess the heart and identity of Jesus - the Good Shepherd. Thus Jesus knew them because they are like Him too! Although these shepherds are mostly identified with priests, for me, I identify them also with the men and women who possess the heart and mind of Jesus, and also helps in their own capacity in shepherding the flock - spreading the Good News, catechism especially for the young, pastoral work in poor areas, spiritual counseling, etc.

Jesus said, "... I am the gate for the sheep." Here, Jesus speaks lovingly to us, His flock. As the Gate, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the Way to eternal life. Jesus is the Truth and speaks the Truth. Jesus gives Life and Meaning to our own existence.

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The Sheep and the Shepherd

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep[a] that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.[b] This command I have received from my Father.”-John10:11-18

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He truly loves each and every sheep. When a 'wolf' comes, He doesn't abandon the flock. If even one leaves the flock, He searches for the lost one. Some say what foolishness to leave the 99 for just a single lost sheep! What if the wolf comes along in His absence? Jesus loves us so much that no one is too small or too trivial to ignore, each is important and well-loved by Him. He searches for the lost one - whoever or whatever it may be - because He loves it so much. But leaving the 99 doesn't mean He doesn't love them (perhaps He knows that the 99 will stay and remain where He left them, are safe, and can possibly defend themselves if needed). He looks for the lost one because it needs help the most. We are the sheep and Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He will never allow that harm or evil will come upon us. He will never allow that we get lost. Should we find ourselves harmed, lost or in the midst of evil around us, Jesus will come to give justice, peace and love. The question is, do we hide, run away or come to Jesus when He calls?

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Spreading the Good News

God is with us.

15 He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.-Mark16:15-20

As followers of Jesus, we too are given the task to "go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." There are many ways to do this - preach, teach, evangelize, catechize, spreading the Word in print or online, newsletters, verbally quoting a Gospel text, etc. Sometimes we cannot see the effect of our actions, and sometimes we do. Sometimes there are signs, sometimes we cannot see the signs. But one thing is certain, Jesus is working with us and guiding us every step of the way as we fulfill our duty of helping proclaim the Gospel to all creatures.

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True Meal

True bread.

52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats[a] my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.-John6:52-59

In the gospel reading, Jesus specifically mentioned that His flesh and blood are true food and drink. It is saddening that some take the Eucharist for granted, not knowing how much grace it gives to any person who takes it. However, the Eucharist, the Word and the Church must go hand in hand. What we learn from the Church, what we contemplated and meditated on the Word, and partaking of the Eucharist must abound and exist in our life. We have to cooperate with God, His will and plan so that our life will be meaningful.

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