Reflection of the Word of God, Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 8th 2022

My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me

The scribes and Pharisees demanded that Jesus tell them clearly and openly if he was the Messiah. Jesus answered in the affirmative and rebuked his unbelief. He again declares himself as the Good Shepherd, who is followed by the sheep that the Father has given him; and neither the Son nor the Father will let one of them be lost.

The protection, then, from the Father and the Son is guaranteed; but not so with regard to the decision of the sheep who, like the Pharisees, refuse to listen to his voice and to belong to his disciples. That confrontation got worse, so much so that at a certain point they tried to stone him for his words, but Jesus escaped (Jn 10:31-33.39).

Those who did recognize the voice of the good shepherd through the preaching of the apostles were other peoples of Greek culture. Those who accepted the preaching of the apostles Paul and Barnabas, thus proving the universality of the Gospel of Jesus, which is destined for a few, but for everyone who accepted it and believes in Him.